Achalasia Center - Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg * Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology  Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology  Pennsylvania Gastroenterology Consultants  Pennsylvania Gastroenterology Consultants  Pennsylvania Gastroenterology Consultants  Pennsylvania Gastroenterology Consultants  Pennsylvania Gastroenterology Consultants  Pennsylvania Gastroenterology Consultants  Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology  Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology  Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology  Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology  Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology  Capital Surgical Group PC  Harrisburg Gastroenterology Ltd  Harrisburg Gastroenterology Ltd  Harrisburg Gastroenterology Ltd  Harrisburg Gastroenterology Ltd  Lebanon Internal Medicine Assoc  Hershey Medical Center  Hershey Medical Center Gastroenterology  Hershey Medical Center Gastroenterology  Hershey Medical Center  Hershey Medical Center Gastroenterology  Hershey Medical Center  MSHMC Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Associates of Central PA PC  Gastroenterology Associates of Central PA PC  Carlisle Digestive Disease  Carlisle Digestive Disease  Carlisle Digestive Disease  Carlisle Digestive Disease  Digestive Disease Center Inc  Digestive Disease Center Inc  Digestive Disease Center Inc  Digestive Disease Center Inc  Digestive Disease Center Inc  Gastroenterology Associates of York PC  Gastroenterology Associates of York PC  Gastroenterology Associates of York PC  Gastroenterology Associates of York PC  Gastroenterology Associates of York PC  Paul D Thomas DO  Good Sameritan Gastro Interology Assoc.  Lebanon Internal Medicine Assoc  Lebanon Internal Medicine Assoc  Rajesh Bajaj MD  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates of Lancaster  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  M Nayeem Akhtar MD  Family Practice Center PC  Richard C Hawley MD  Geisinger Medical Center Gastroenterology & Nutrition  Geisinger Medical Center Pediatrics Gastroenterology  Geisinger Medical Center Gastroenterology & Nutrition  Geisinger Medical Center Gastroenterology & Nutrition  Geisinger Medical Center Pediatrics Gastroenterology  Geisinger Medical Center Gastroenterology & Nutrition  Juniata Valley Gastro Association  Juniata Valley Gastro Association  Pottsville Internist Associates  Glenn S Freed DO  Integrated Medical Group PC Gastroenterology  Integrated Medical Group PC Gastroenterology  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Susquehanna Health Gastroenterology Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaUpcoming 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 Harrisburg
Nearby Harrisburg Hospitals *Harrisburg Hospital Polyclinic Hospital Holy Spirit Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Camp Hill Community General Osteopathic Hospital Pinnacle Health Helen M Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Mechanicsburg Rehabilitation Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Regional Specialty Hospital Penn State Hershey Medical Center Penn State Children's Hospital Carlisle Regional Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of York Philhaven Memorial Hospital York Hospital The Good Samaritan Hospital Lebanon VA Medical Center Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center Hanover Hospital Lancaster Regional Medical Center Lancaster General 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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