Achalasia Center - Chelsea, MA
Chelsea 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 Chelsea * Ira Michaelson MD  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  Massachusetts General Hospital Gastroenterology  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  Pediatric GI & Nutritional Associates at MGH  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  MGH Gastroenterology Associates  Rong J Guan MD  Human Nutrition Research Center  Tufts New England Medical Center Dept Gastroenterology  Tufts Medical Center  New England Medical Center Adult Nutritional Support Services  Tufts Medical Center  Tufts Medical Center  New England Medical Center Adult Nutritional Support Services  Tufts Medical Center  Bay State Gastroenterology PC  Boston University Medical Group  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  Boston University Medical Group  BMC Gastroenterology  BMC Gastroenterology  Melrose Internal Medicine  Melrose Medical Associates  Cambridge Hospital Medical Specialists  Carlo Cecchetti MD  Harvard Vanguard Medical Specialties Cambridge  Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Internal Medicine Medford  Harvard Vanguard Medical Specialties Cambridge  Harvard Vanguard Gastroenterology  Harvard Vanguard Gastroenterology  Harvard Vanguard Gastroenterology  Harvard Vanguard Gastroenterology  Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Surgery  Harvard Vanguard Gastroenterology  Digestive Health Associates  Digestive Health Associates  Pastor Medical Group  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Gastroenterology  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center  Ram Chuttani MD  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Gastroenterology  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Harvey Goldman MD  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Ciaran P Kelly MD  Kinnari R Kher MD  John T. Lamont, MD  Anthony J Lembo MD  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates  Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr Digestive Disease Ctr  Beth Israel Deaconess  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Gastroenterology  Brigham & Women's Hospital Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates Chelsea, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-05-19
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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 Chelsea
Nearby Chelsea Hospitals *Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Whidden Memorial Hospital Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Tufts New England Medical Center M I T Medical Cambridge Hospital Somerville Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Boston Medical Center Lawrence Memorial Hospital Melrose Wakefield Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Children's Hospital Boston Arbour HRI Hospital Dana Farber Cancer Institute Brigham & Women's Hospital Mount Auburn Hospital New England Baptist Hospital Radius Specialty Hospital Boston VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Kindred Hospital Boston Arbour Hospital Franciscan Hospital for Children Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Winchester Hospital Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Massachusetts Mental Health Center North Shore Medical Center Caritas Carney Hospital Faulkner Hospital Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital McLean Hospital Bournewood Hospital Quincy Medical Center Salem Hospital & the Birthplace Milton Hospital North Shore Children's Hospital Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus Lahey Clinic Medical Center Newton Wellesley Hospital Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham Beverly Hospital Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital South Shore Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree Massachusetts Hospital School Westwood Lodge Hospital Caritas Norwood Hospital Emerson Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Tewksbury Hospital Isham Health Center Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital Baldpate Hospital Saints Medical Center Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton Lawrence General Hospital Addison Gilbert Hospital HC Solomon Mental Health Center Lowell General Hospital Pembroke Hospital Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center Merrimack Valley Hospital 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
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Esophageal Cancer
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Vitiligo
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Eosinophilic Esophagitis
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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.
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Esophagitis
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The Digestive System
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Esophageal Cancer
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