Achalasia Center - Cleveland, TN
Cleveland 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 Cleveland * Blue Ridge Gastroenterology PC  GI Associates  GI Associates  Peerless Medical Associates  Galen Medical Group  David N Collins MD PC  GI Consultants PC  Liver & Gastroenterology Center  Alan F Shikoh MD  Digestive Health Assoc  Digestive Health Assoc  Digestive Health Assoc  Galen Medical Group  Gastroenterology Associates of Chattanooga PC  Chattanooga Gastroenterology  Michael W Goodman MD & Matthew Bagamery MD  Galen Medical Group  Galen Medical Group  Michael W Goodman MD & Matthew Bagamery MD  Galen Medical Group  Robert Yatto MD  Westside Gastrointestinal Specialists  Westside Gastrointestinal Specialists  West Knoxville Gastroenterology  Oak Ridge Gastroenterology Associates  Oak Ridge Gastroenterology Associates  Oak Ridge Gastroenterology Associates  Oak Ridge Gastroenterology Associates  Oak Ridge Gastroenterology Associates  Oak Ridge Gastroenterology Associates  Oak Ridge Gastroenterology Associates  Knoxville Consultants in Gastroenterology  Gary A Spiegelman MD  Knoxville Consultants in Gastroenterology  Knoxville Gastroenterology Consultants  Blount Gastroenterology Associates PC  Blount Gastroenterology Associates PC  Blount Gastroenterology Associates PC  Blount Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Raymond L Hargrove MD  Medical Specialists Of Cookeville  Medical Specialists Of Cookeville  University Gastroenterology PC  University Gastroenterology PC  University Gastroenterology PC  University Gastroenterology PC  University Gastroenterology PC  Thomas L Young MD  Knoxville Gastrointestinal Specialists PC  Knoxville Gastrointestinal Specialists PC  Knoxville Gastrointestinal Specialists PC  Knoxville Gastrointestinal Specialists PC  Knoxville Gastrointestinal Specialists PC  Suzanne C Collier MD Cleveland, TennesseeUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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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 Cleveland
Nearby Cleveland Hospitals *SkyRidge Medical Center Main Campus SkyRidge Medical Center Westside Campus Parkridge Valley Hospital Memorial North Park Hospital Woods Memorial Hospital Parkridge East Hospital Memorial Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Chattanooga Rehabilitation Hospital Parkridge Medical Center Erlanger North Hospital Athens Regional Medical Center TC Thompson Children's Hospital Erlanger Baroness Campus Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation Kindred Hospital Chattanooga Rhea Medical Center Hamilton Medical Center Hutcheson Medical Center Murray Medical Center Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute Copper Basin Medical Center Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital Fannin Regional 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. |
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