Achalasia Center - Blue Springs, MO
Blue Springs 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 Blue Springs * Gregory M Vardakis DO  Gregory M Vardakis DO  Gregory M Vardakis DO  Gregory M Vardakis DO  Gregory M Vardakis DO  John Anthony Woltjen MD  Midwest Gastroenterology Partners PC  Midwest Gastroenterology Partners PC  Midwest Gastroenterology Partners PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Summit Gastroenterology  Summit Gastroenterology  Summit Gastroenterology  Summit Gastroenterology  Drs Fedotin & Ginsberg  Drs Fedotin & Ginsberg  Drs Fedotin & Ginsberg  Drs Fedotin & Ginsberg  Drs Fedotin & Ginsberg  Terrence W. Coleman, M.D., P.C.  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Kansas City Gastroenterology & Hepatology LLC  Medical Group of Kansas City  Kansas City Gastroenterology & Hepatology LLC  Gastrointestinal Associated Specialists PC  Frederick N Shuler MD  Gastrointestinal Associated Specialists PC  Plaza Gastroenterology Associates  Plaza Gastroenterology Associates  Plaza Gastroenterology Associates  Plaza Gastroenterology Associates  Plaza Gastroenterology Associates  Mid America Gastro Intestinal Consultants  Mid America Gastro Intestinal Consultants  Mid America Gastro Intestinal Consultants  Mid America Gastro Intestinal Consultants  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  Consultants in Gastroenterology PC  West Glen Gastrointestinal Consultants PA  Golden Valley Medical Center  St Joseph Clinic PC  St Joseph Clinic PC  Heartland Gastroenterology  Heartland Gastroenterology  Heartland Gastroenterology  Heartland Gastroenterology  Heartland Gastroenterology Blue Springs, MissouriUpcoming Local Events2012-05-20
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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 Blue Springs
Nearby Blue Springs Hospitals *St Mary's Medical Center Centerpoint Medical Center Truman Medical Center Lakewood Saint Luke's East Lee's Summit Medical Center Two Rivers Psychiatric Hospital Crittenton Children's Center Kansas City VA Medical Center Research Medical Center Research Psychiatric Center Select Specialty Hospital Western Missouri Kindred Hospital Kansas City Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill Western Missouri Mental Health Center Children's Mercy Hospital & Clinics Saint Luke's Hospital North Kansas City Hospital Rainbow Mental Health Facility University of Kansas Hospital & Medical Center St Joseph Medical Center Liberty Hospital Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute Doctor's Hospital Heartland Spine & Specialty Hospital Mid-America Rehabilitation Hospital Children's Mercy South Menorah Medical Center Research Belton Hospital Specialty Hospital of Mid America Shawnee Mission Medical Center Saint Luke's South Hospital Children's Mercy Northland Excelsior Springs Medical Center Ray County Memorial Hospital Lafayette Regional Health Center Overland Park Regional Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Kansas City Cass Regional Medical Center Saint Luke's Northland Hospital Barry Road Campus Providence Medical Center Saint Luke's Northland Hospital Smithville Campus Olathe Medical Center Western Missouri 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. |
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Dysphagia
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