title: Pressure-overload-induced sliding hiatal hernia in power athletes.
abstract: Sliding hiatal hernias are a common condition thought to occur with increasing age secondary to a degenerative process. The incidence of sliding hiatal hernias in the general population is 0.5%. Although the prevalence in the Western world is thought to be significantly higher, with approximately 60% of geriatric patients in North America having a hiatal hernia on radiologic studies. Thus, the primary etiology of the sliding hiatal hernia is thought to be degeneration of the phrenoesophageal ligament. Most hiatal hernias occurring in young adults are idiopathic. There has been speculation of a stress-induced hiatal hernia from repeated episodes of elevated intra-abdominal pressure, and to date there is one report of a pressure-overload-induced hiatal hernia occurring in an elite body builder. The prevalence of hiatal hernia in young male power athletes has yet to be examined. Therefore, we examined eight male elite power athletes and seven male non-weightlifters, matched for age, via fluoroscopy with barium swallow to test the hypothesis that pressure overload can induce hiatal hernias in young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth 76107-2699, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Dickerman
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: East
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: McConathy
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000293:injuries
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate