Achalasia Center - Elgin, IL
Elgin 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 Elgin * Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Specialists In Gastroenterology  Specialists In Gastroenterology  Drs Kane, Misawa & Spiess LLC  Drs Kane, Misawa & Spiess LLC  Drs Kane, Misawa & Spiess LLC  Drs Kane, Misawa & Spiess LLC  Northwest Healthcare  Northwest Healthcare  Northwest Healthcare  George Zahrebelski MD  Gastrointestinal Health Specialists LLC  Gastrointestinal Health Specialists LLC  Gastroenterology Group  Gastroenterology Group  Gastrointestinal Health Associates  Gastroenterology Group  Gastroenterology Group  Gastrointestinal Health Associates  Gastrointestinal Health Associates  Gastrointestinal Health Associates  Gastroenterology Group  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine Specialists SC  Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine Specialists SC  Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine Specialists SC  Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine Specialists SC  Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine Specialists SC  Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine Specialists SC  Fox Glen Gastroenterology  Gloria J Caruso MD PC  Mark E Dubin MD  Joseph Lagattuta MD  Mohammed Mahkri MD  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dharmvir S Verma MD  Shahid B Ilahi MD  K Krishnankutty MD  Naperville Gastroenterology  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Mercy Woodstock Medical Center  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Therapeutic Endoscopy Associates PC  Therapeutic Endoscopy Associates PC  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  Suburban Gastroenterology Ltd  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  Suburban Gastroenterology Ltd  Suburban Gastroenterology Ltd  Advocate Medical Group Arlington Heights  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  Southwest Digestive Disease Consultants  Riverside Medical  Southwest Digestive Disease Consultants  Mohamad Z Sait MD Ltd  Dyer GI Clinics of Illinois  Digestive Health Services SC  Digestive Health Services SC  Digestive Health Services SC  Midwest GI Associates  Fahey Medical Center  Elmhurst Clinic Gastroenterology  Elmhurst Clinic Gastroenterology  Elmhurst Clinic Gastroenterology  Associates In Gastroenterology & Liver Disease LLC  Associates In Gastroenterology & Liver Disease LLC  Northshore Center for Gastroenterology  Northshore Center for Gastroenterology  Northshore Center for Gastroenterology  Gerard A Sublette MD & Christopher Boutin MD  Gerard A Sublette MD & Christopher Boutin MD  Mohammad Bawani MD  Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Consultants Elgin, IllinoisUpcoming 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 Elgin
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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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