hernia• Ten years ago she had a herniaoperation.• Endoscopy showed a hiatal hernia in 72% of the patients.• Indeed, when compared with asthmatics without oesophagitis, asthmatics with oesophagitis had a sevenfold increase in the frequency of hiatal hernia.• These results clearly show that hiatal hernia is associated with more severe oesophageal mucosal disease in asthmatics.• Hiatal hernia was the only statistically significantpredictor of oesophageal mucosal status.• Hiatushernia was absent in only one of the nine patients with Barrett's oesophagus.• Hiatus hernia was present in 33 patients.• Men get more ulcers, hernias, and back problems.