Achalasia Center - Lakeland, FL
Lakeland 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 Lakeland * David J Vargas MD PA  David J Vargas MD PA  Robert Lamport & Adedamola Lufadejus MDs  Robert Lamport & Adedamola Lufadejus MDs  Watson Clinic LLP  Watson Clinic LLP  Watson Clinic LLP  Watson Clinic LLP  Watson Clinic LLP  James Johnson MD PA  Rodolfo G Miro MD  Pediatric Gastroenterology  Pediatric Gastroenterology  Continued Care of Plant City  Florida Gastroenterology Associates  Florida Gastroenterology Associates  Florida Gastroenterology Associates  David B Simmons MD PA  Bond Clinic PA  Florida Medical Clinic PA  Florida Medical Clinic PA  Pasco Clinic  Pasco Clinic  Devendra Kahlon MD  Ridge Medical Associates LLC  Ishwari Prasad MD  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  C T Thomas MD  Mazen Kattih MD  Richard J Eatroff MD PA  Caroline C Honculada MD  Imad Nakshabendi MD PA  Ronald L Barbour MD & Emmanuel Mompi MD  Moffitt Cancer Center Gastrointestinal Tumor  Florida Medical Clinic PA  Moffitt Cancer Center Gastrointestinal Tumor  Florida Medical Clinic PA  Florida Medical Clinic PA  Florida Medical Clinic PA  Florida Medical Clinic PA  Moffitt Cancer Center Gastrointestinal Tumor  Florida Medical Clinic PA  Moffitt Cancer Center Gastrointestinal Tumor  Florida Medical Clinic PA  Eugene A Ward MD  UCH Gastroenterology Center  UCH Gastroenterology Center  USF Physicians Group  James A Haley VA Medical Center  USF Physicians Group Gastroenterology  USF Physicians Group  USF Physicians Group Gastroenterology  USF Physicians Group Gastroenterology  USF Physicians Group Gastroenterology  Advanced Gastroenterology Associates  Gerardo F Palacios MD PA  Lifelink Healthcare Institute  Sun Coast GI Associates  Ashok K Dhaduvai MD  Internal Medicine Specialists  Internal Medicine Specialists  Internal Medicine Specialists  Internal Medicine Specialists  David R Heiman MD PA  Roland David Shepard MD  HealthPoint Medical Group  Colin T Chircop MD  Gerald H Dominguez MD  Norman B Edgerton Jr. MD PA  Leopoldo Grauer MD FACG  HealthPoint Medical Group  HealthPoint Medical Group  Morris R Hanan MD PA  John Isaac Delgado MD  John Q Stauffer MD Palma CEIA Medical Group  Professional Gastroenterology & Associates  Professional Gastroenterology & Associates  South Lake Gastroenterology  South Lake Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Specialists of Tampa  Gastroenterology Specialists of Tampa  Gastroenterology Specialists of Tampa  Drs Whitaker, Weintraub, Prockop & Grizzard  Gastroenterology Associates Of Osceola PA  Gastroenterology Associates Of Osceola PA  Gastroenterology Associates Of Osceola PA  Gastroenterology Associates Of Osceola PA  Gastroenterology Associates Of Osceola PA  Gastroenterology Associates Of Osceola PA  Charles Bisogno DO  Nasir Alar MD  Advanced Gastroenterology Affiliates PA  Internal Medicine Specialists  Mario F Moquete MD  Mid Florida Gastroenterology Consultants  P K Paul MD  Roy D Cavalcant MD  Premier Gastroenterology  Internal Medicine Specialists Lakeland, FloridaUpcoming 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 Lakeland
Nearby Lakeland Hospitals *Lakeland Regional Medical Center South Florida Baptist Hospital Winter Haven Hospital Regency Medical Center Bartow Regional Medical Center Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Brandon Regional Hospital Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center Lake Wales Medical Center Pasco Regional Medical Center H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute University Community Hospital James A Haley VA Medical Center Shriners Hospital for Children Florida Hospital Celebration Health Tampa General Hospital Kindred Hospital Central Tampa St Joseph's Children's Hospital of Tampa St Joseph's Hospital St Joseph's Women's Hospital Memorial Hospital of Tampa University Community Hospital Carrollwood South Bay 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. |
Suggested Reading on Achalasia by Our Doctors
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Dysphagia
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