Hiatus hernia is a very common digestive problem, which causes heartburn, indigestion and chest pains. Evidence from general practitioners suggests that as many as one in five patients they see has a hiatus hernia. Self-management is the key to treating hiatus hernia - changing eating patterns, sleeping position and posture in order to allow the gap in the stomach to heal. Tom Smith is a qualified general practitioner. Here he explains the symptoms and discusses who is at risk. He provides information about the treatments and what they involve, along with advice on how to prevent a recurrence. There is also practical advice on controlling the symptoms.