Achalasia Center - Macon, GA
Macon 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 Macon * Middle Georgia Gastroenterology PC  Middle Georgia Gastroenterology PC  Benjamin Johnston MD  Gastroenterology Associates of Central Georgia  Gastroenterology Associates of Central Georgia  Gastroenterology Associates of Central Georgia  Gastroenterology Associates of Central Georgia  Gastroenterology Associates of Central Georgia  Douglas P Dozier MD  Central Georgia Center for Digestive Health  Genesis Gastroenterology  William K Garnto MD  Keith B Huckaby MD  Digestive Care Specialist LLC  Internal Medicine of Griffin  Dublin Internal Medicine  Dublin Internal Medicine  East Atlanta Gastroenterology PC  East Atlanta Gastroenterology PC  East Atlanta Gastroenterology PC  East Atlanta Gastroenterology PC  East Atlanta Gastroenterology PC  Khalid Jalil MD  South Atlantic Medical Clinic  South Atlantic Medical Clinic  Advanced Digestive Care Center PC  South Atlantic Medical Clinic  Karim K Shakoor MD & Naseem Shakoor MD  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Athens Gastroenterology Association  Athens Gastroenterology Association  Digestive Healthcare PC  Infinite Health  Atlanta South Gastroenterology  South Atlantic Medical Clinic  Atlanta Multi-Specialty Associates PC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Gastroenterology Specialists of Dekalb  Ranjit C Mathew MD  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Claudia S Kretzschmar MD  Stephen W Wilde MD  J Michael West MD  J Michael West MD  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Atlanta Digestive Center LLC  Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology  Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Atlanta South Gastroenterology  Athens Gastroenterology Center PC  Northeast Atlanta Associates Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Emory University Digestive Diseases  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Bennett H Bruckner MD  Richard Chernecky MD  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Indra Krishnan MD  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Consultative Gastroenterology  Del Mazo Medical Services  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Consultative Gastroenterology  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Gastroenterology & Nutrition Clinic PC  Yoon J Lee MD Macon, GeorgiaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
2012-06-02
2012-06-09
2012-06-17
2012-08-18
2012-09-16
2012-10-13
2012-11-11
2012-11-11
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 Macon
Nearby Macon Hospitals *The Children's Hospital Regency Hospital of Central Georgia Medical Center of Central Georgia Coliseum Medical Center Coliseum Psychiatric Center Coliseum Northside Hospital Central Georgia Rehabilitation Hospital Houston Medical Center Monroe County Hospital Peach Regional Medical Center Perry Hospital Central State Hospital Oconee Regional Medical Center Jasper Memorial 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
-
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
