Achalasia Center - Alpharetta, GA
Alpharetta Gastroenterologist Doctors for AchalasiaType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Alpharetta * Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  North Atlanta Gastroenterology PC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Gastric Health Institute  Alpharetta Gastroenterology Associates PC  Lee Oberman MD PC  Gastroenterology of North Georgia  Johns Creek Gastroenterology  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Bennett H Bruckner MD  Yoon J Lee MD  Kaiser Permanente  Richard Chernecky MD  Kaiser Permanente  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Christopher D Sarzen MD PC  Gastroenterology Atlanta LLC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Kathryn Mettler MD  Comprehensive Gastroenterology  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Advanced Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Mario E Ravry MD & Mario J R Ravry MD  Cynthia S Rudert MD  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Johns Creek Gastroenterology  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Northeast Atlanta Associates Gastroenterology  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Northside Medical Specialists LLC  Gastroenterology & Nutrition Clinic PC  Emory University Digestive Diseases  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Atlanta Digestive Center LLC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology  Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  Advanced Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Indra Krishnan MD  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Gastroenterology Specialists of Dekalb  Thomas J Demarco MD  Consultative Gastroenterology  Del Mazo Medical Services  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC Alpharetta, GeorgiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
2012-06-10
2012-06-16
2012-06-23
2012-06-30
2012-07-09
2012-07-14
2012-08-25
2012-10-27
2012-11-18
AchalasiaWhat is achalasia?Achalasia is a rare disease of the muscle of the esophagus (swallowing tube). The term achalasia means "failure to relax" and refers to the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter (a ring of muscle situated between the lower esophagus and the stomach) to open and let food pass into the stomach. As a result, patients with achalasia have difficulty in swallowing food.
How does the normal esophagus function?The esophagus has three functional parts. The uppermost part is the upper esophageal sphincter, a specialized ring of muscle that forms the upper end of the tubular esophagus and separates the esophagus from the throat. The upper sphincter remains closed most of the time to prevent food in the main part of the esophagus from backing up into the throat. The main part of the esophagus is referred to as the body of the esophagus, a long, muscular tube approximately 20 cm (8 in) in length. The third functional part of the esophagus is the lower esophageal sphincter, a ring of specialized esophageal muscle at the junction of the esophagus with the stomach. Like the upper sphincter, the lower sphincter remains closed most of the time to prevent food and acid from backing up into the body of the esophagus from the stomach. The upper sphincter relaxes with swallowing to allow food and saliva to pass from the throat into the esophageal body. The muscle in the upper esophagus just below the upper sphincter then contracts, squeezing food and saliva further down into the esophageal body. The ring-like contraction of the muscle progresses down the body of the esophagus, propelling the food and saliva towards the stomach. (The progression of the muscular contraction through the esophageal body is referred to as a peristaltic wave.). By the time the peristaltic wave reaches the lower sphincter, the sphincter has opened, and the food passes into the stoma... Recommended Reading Related to AchalasiaWhat is dysphagia?Dysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty swallowing, derived from the Latin and Greek words meaning difficulty eating. Mechanism of swallowing Swallowing is a complex action.
Other Related Achalasia ArticlesEmergency Contact for Alpharetta
Nearby Alpharetta Hospitals *North Fulton Regional Hospital Emory Johns Creek Hospital Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth Glancy Rehabilitation Center Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta Northside Hospital Forsyth Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite Northside Hospital Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital Northside Hospital Cherokee Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Gwinnett Medical Center Atlanta VA Medical Center Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital Devereux Georgia Treatment Network Children's Healthcare at Egleston DeKalb Medical Center Emory University Hospital Emory Adventist Hospital Ridgeview Institute SummitRidge Center for Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine Piedmont Hospital Shepherd Center Hillside Hospital DeKalb Medical Laurel Heights Hospital Emory Eastside Medical Center Kindred Hospital Atlanta Emory University Hospital Midtown Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta Atlanta Medical Center Grady Health System Wellstar Cobb Hospital Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Regency Hospital of South Atlanta South Fulton Medical Center Cartersville Medical Center Northeast Georgia Medical Center Rockdale Medical Center Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lanier Park Campus Anchor Hospital Wellstar Paulding Hospital Barrow Regional Medical Center Wellstar Douglas Hospital Southern Regional Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Achalasia by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
6 articles-
Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the esophagus. Risk factors of cancer of the esophagus include smoking, heavy alcohol use, Barrett's esophagus, being male and being over age 60. Severe weight loss, vomiting, hoarseness, coughing up blood, painful swallowing, and pain in the throat or back are symptoms. Treatment depends upon the size, location and staging of the cancer and the health of the patient.
-
Vitiligo
- Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin turns white due to the loss of pigment from the melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin that gives the skin color.
-
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus. Eosinophilic esophagitis has many causes including acid reflux, heartburn, viruses, medications that become stuck in the esophagus, allergy, asthma, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Eosinophilic esophagitis symptoms include difficulty swallowing food, abdominal pain, chest pain, and heartburn.
-
Dysphagia
- Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, swallowing problems. Dysphagia is due to problems in nerve or muscle control. It is common, for example, after a stroke. Dysphagia compromises nutrition and hydration and may lead to aspiration pneumonia and dehydration.
-
Esophagitis
- Esophagitis is caused by an infection or irritation of the esophagus. Infections that cause esophagitis include candida yeast infection of the esophagus as well as herpes.
-
The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
-
Esophageal Cancer
-
Medications
5 articles -
Procedures & Tests
4 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
1 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
1 articles -
Health News
0 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
