Achalasia Center - Joliet, IL
Joliet 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 Joliet * Southwest Gastroenterology  Southwest Gastroenterology  Southwest Gastroenterology  Southwest Gastroenterology  Southwest Gastroenterology  Suresh Bhalla MD  Digestive Disease Clinic of Joliet Ltd  Basant K Jhawar MD  Digestive Health Associates  Deepak Bakane MD  Naperville Gastroenterology  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  Hedges Clinic  Suburban Gastroenterology Ltd  Suburban Gastroenterology Ltd  Suburban Gastroenterology Ltd  Midwest Physician Centers of Orland Park  Midwest Physician Centers of Orland Park  Midwest Physician Centers of Orland Park  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  Southwest Digestive Disease Consultants  Southwest Digestive Disease Consultants  Digestive Health Services SC  Digestive Health Services SC  Digestive Health Services SC  Gastroenterology Services Ltd  Gastroenterology Services Ltd  Gastroenterology Services Ltd  Mohamad Z Sait MD Ltd  Gastroenterology Group  Gastroenterology Group  Gastrointestinal Health Specialists LLC  Gastroenterology Group  Digestive Disease Associates  Gastroenterology Group  Gastroenterology Group  Digestive Disease Associates  Midwest GI Associates  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Ingalls Family Care Center  Mohammed Mahkri MD  Midwest Center for Digestive Health  Midwest Center for Digestive Health  Midwest Center for Digestive Health  Midwest Center for Digestive Health  Midwest Center for Digestive Health  Digestive Health Associates  Dyer GI Clinics of Illinois  Gerard A Sublette MD & Christopher Boutin MD  Elmhurst Clinic Gastroenterology  Gerard A Sublette MD & Christopher Boutin MD  GI Associates  Yorkville Family Practice  GI Associates  GI Associates  GI Associates  Advocate Health Care Hazel Crest  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Digestive Diseases Consultants  Digestive Diseases Consultants  Digestive Diseases Consultants  Digestive Diseases Consultants  Digestive Diseases Consultants  Digestive Diseases Consultants  Digestive Diseases Consultants  Elmhurst Clinic Gastroenterology  Elmhurst Clinic Gastroenterology  Southwest Medical Consultants  Southwest Medical Consultants  South Suburban Gastroenterology  South Suburban Gastroenterology  South Suburban Gastroenterology  South Suburban Gastroenterology  BHS Digestive Disease  Midwest GI Associates  BHS Digestive Disease  Midwest GI Associates  Joseph Lagattuta MD  Gloria J Caruso MD PC  Drs Bernthal, Klygis, Lohmann & Andersen MD  Loyola University Medical Center  Loyola University Medical Center  Loyola University Medical Center  Drs Bernthal, Klygis, Lohmann & Andersen MD  Loyola University Medical Center Joliet, IllinoisUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
2012-06-09
2012-07-07
2012-07-12
2012-08-24
2012-09-09
2012-09-09
2012-09-15
2012-09-23
2012-10-07
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 Joliet
Nearby Joliet Hospitals *Silver Cross Hospital Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital Tinley Park Mental Health Center Linden Oaks Hospital at Edward Edward Hospital Rush-Copley Medical Center Palos Community Hospital Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County St James Hospital & Health Center Olympia Fields Advocate Christ Medical Center & Hope Children's Hospital Advocate South Suburban Hospital Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Morris Hospital RML Specialty Hospital Adventist Hinsdale Hospital Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital Provena Mercy Medical Center Ingalls Memorial Hospital MetroSouth Medical Center St James Hospital & Health Centers Chicago Heights Central DuPage Hospital Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital Little Company of Mary Hospital & Health Care Centers MacNeal Hospital Holy Cross Hospital Roseland Community Hospital Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital John J Madden Mental Health Center Loyola University Medical Center Adventist GlenOaks Hospital Riveredge Hospital Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Resurrection Health Care Westlake Hospital Delnor-Community Hospital Kindred Hospital Northlake RUSH Oak Park Hospital Hartgrove Hospital Loretto Hospital Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers South Campus St Bernard Hospital & Health Care Center Valley West Community Hospital Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Riverside Medical Center Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital Franciscan Physicians Hospital Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers North Campus Select Specialty Hospital Northwest Indiana The Community Hospital Provena St Mary's Hospital Resurrection Health Care West Suburban Medical Center Advocate Trinity Hospital Saint Anthony Hospital Jackson Park Hospital & Medical Center University of Chicago Hospital Bernard Mitchell South Shore Hospital University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital Advocate Bethany Hospital Provident Hospital of Cook County Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center Shriners Hospital for Children Chicago La Rabida Children's Hospital Sacred Heart Hospital Jesse Brown VA Medical Center University of Illinois Medical Center John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County Johnston R Bowman Health Center Rush University Medical Center Mercy Hospital & Medical Center Norwegian-American Hospital Alexian Brothers Medical Center Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital Chicago-Read Mental Health Center Resurrection Health Care Our Lady of Resurrection Medical Center Resurrection Health Care Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center 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
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
6 articles-
Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the esophagus. Risk factors of cancer of the esophagus include smoking, heavy alcohol use, Barrett's esophagus, being male and being over age 60. Severe weight loss, vomiting, hoarseness, coughing up blood, painful swallowing, and pain in the throat or back are symptoms. Treatment depends upon the size, location and staging of the cancer and the health of the patient.
-
Vitiligo
- Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin turns white due to the loss of pigment from the melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin that gives the skin color.
-
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus. Eosinophilic esophagitis has many causes including acid reflux, heartburn, viruses, medications that become stuck in the esophagus, allergy, asthma, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Eosinophilic esophagitis symptoms include difficulty swallowing food, abdominal pain, chest pain, and heartburn.
-
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.
-
Esophagitis
- Esophagitis is caused by an infection or irritation of the esophagus. Infections that cause esophagitis include candida yeast infection of the esophagus as well as herpes.
-
The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
-
Esophageal Cancer
-
Medications
5 articles -
Procedures & Tests
4 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
1 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
1 articles -
Health News
0 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
