Achalasia Center - North Atlanta, GA
North Atlanta 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 North Atlanta * Mario E Ravry MD & Mario J R Ravry MD  Cynthia S Rudert MD  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Gastroenterology of North Georgia  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Kathryn Mettler MD  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Comprehensive Gastroenterology  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Gastroenterology Atlanta LLC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Lee Oberman MD PC  Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Christopher D Sarzen MD PC  Emory University Digestive Diseases  Kaiser Permanente  Kaiser Permanente  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  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  Northeast Atlanta Associates Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology & Nutrition Clinic PC  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  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  Gastroenterology Specialists of Dekalb  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Thomas J Demarco MD  North Atlanta Gastroenterology PC  Gastric Health Institute  Alpharetta Gastroenterology Associates PC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta South Gastroenterology  Atlanta South Gastroenterology  Richard Chernecky MD  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Bennett H Bruckner MD  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Yoon J Lee MD  Johns Creek Gastroenterology  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Digestive Healthcare PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Infinite Health  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Advanced Digestive Care Center PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Westside Gastroenterology Associates  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC North Atlanta, GeorgiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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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 North Atlanta
Nearby North Atlanta Hospitals *Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite Northside Hospital Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital Atlanta VA Medical Center Children's Healthcare at Egleston Emory University Hospital Hillside Hospital Piedmont Hospital Shepherd Center DeKalb Medical Center Laurel Heights Hospital DeKalb Medical Kindred Hospital Atlanta Emory University Hospital Midtown Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta Atlanta Medical Center Grady Health System Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital Emory Adventist Hospital Ridgeview Institute Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth North Fulton Regional Hospital Regency Hospital of South Atlanta South Fulton Medical Center Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Glancy Rehabilitation Center DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale Wellstar Cobb Hospital Emory Johns Creek Hospital Devereux Georgia Treatment Network Emory Eastside Medical Center Anchor Hospital Gwinnett Medical Center Southern Regional Medical Center SummitRidge Center for Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine Rockdale Medical Center Northside Hospital Forsyth Wellstar Douglas Hospital Henry Medical Center Inner Harbour Hospitals Northside Hospital Cherokee Wellstar Paulding Hospital Piedmont Fayette Hospital Newton Medical Center Tanner Medical Center Villa Rica 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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