ObjectiveTo introduce the hiatal hernia (HH) and to summarize the research development of relationship between HH and respiratory symptoms. MethodsLiteratures in recent years which about relationship between HH and respiratory symptoms at home and abroad were collected and reviewed. ResultsGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which always be caused by laryngeal airway and other esophageal symptoms, was a common illness and easily be misdiagnosed. One common symptom of the GERD was the HH. For those patients with reflux-associated esophageal symptoms, many of them suffered from HH. The treatment results showed that the endoscopic surgery could relieve the reflux symptom and effectively control the respiratory symptoms. ConclusionsThe HH can increase the risk of respiratory symptoms; an active treatment on the HH can relieve the respiratory symptoms, which is caused by the reflux symptom.