Achalasia Center - Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg 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 Hattiesburg * Surgery and Gastroenterology  Surgery and Gastroenterology  Surgery and Gastroenterology  Surgery and Gastroenterology  Hattiesburg GI Associates  Hattiesburg GI Associates  Hattiesburg GI Associates  Hattiesburg GI Associates  Jefferson Medical Associates  Jefferson Medical Associates  Jefferson Medical Associates  Gastroenterology Center  Gastroenterology Center  Gastroenterology Center  Gastroenterology Center  Coastal Wellness Center  Coastal Wellness Center  Internal Medicine Clinic  Internal Medicine Clinic  Rush Medical Group PA  Rush Medical Group PA  Rush Medical Group PA  Meridian Medical Associates PA  Regional Digestive Specialists PC  Regional Digestive Specialists PC  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Gastrointestinal Associates PA  Jackson Medical Clinic LLC  Jackson Medical Clinic LLC  Jackson Medical Clinic LLC  Jackson Medical Clinic LLC  Deborah S Skelton MD  UMC Division of Gastroenterology  Thomas P Mills MD  UMC Division of Gastroenterology  UMC Division of Gastroenterology  University Physicians  Hinds Internal Medicine  Hinds Internal Medicine Hattiesburg, MississippiUpcoming Local Events2012-05-19
2012-05-25
2012-11-11
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 Hattiesburg
Nearby Hattiesburg Hospitals *Regency Hospital of Hattiesburg Wesley Medical Center Clearview Recovery Center Forrest General Hospital South Mississippi State Hospital Perry County General Hospital South Central Regional Medical Center Covington County Hospital Marion General Hospital Stone County 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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