Hiatal hernia is the protrusion (or herniation) of the upper part of the stomach into the thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm. Hiatal hernia is caused by a larger-than-normal esophageal hiatus, the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes from the chest into the abdomen; as a result of the large opening, part of the stomach “slips” into the chest. There are two major kinds of hiatus hernia.
# The most common (95%) is the sliding hiatus hernia, where the gastroesophageal junction moves above the diaphragm together with some of the stomach.
# The second kind is rolling (or paraesophageal) hiatus hernia, when a part of the stomach herniates through the esophageal hiatus and lies beside the esophagus, without movement of the gastroesophageal junction. It accounts for the remaining 5% of hiatus hernias.
A third kind is also sometimes described, and is a combination of the first and second kinds. Charlie Sheen hospitalized on Thursday morning with severe stomach pains. “All I know is what I was told – that he was having severe abdominal pains”, his rep, Stan Rosenfield, told to the media sources. TMZ reported that Sheen had been partying with a porn star named Kacey Jordan. The LA Times reports that Sheen has a hiatal hernia. The intense abdominal pain was a result of that.
‘Two and a Half Men’ co-star Jon Cryer told Conan O’Brien on Wednesday that he often has to tune into TMZ to find out what Sheen was up to at that time. Two young women exited the house at the same time Charlie was taken out with a towel partially over his face. Sheen reportedly began doing the drug for several hours. His rep says, “I can’t comment because I have no idea if it’s true. You choose to believe your source, I don’t.” Charlie’s father, Martin Sheen, and his mom, Janet Templeton, Charlie’s ex-wife, Denise Richards are at the hospital.