Achalasia Center - Pawtucket, RI
Pawtucket 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 Pawtucket * Consultants In Gastroenterology  Consultants In Gastroenterology  Consultants In Gastroenterology  Consultants In Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  University Medical Group  Steven B Kirschner MD  University Medical Group  University Medical Group  University Medical Group  Women & Infants Hospital  Women & Infants Hospital  Women & Infants Hospital  Women & Infants Hospital  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  Philip J Opalenski MD  Atwood Gastroenterology Services  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  Nikhil & Sripathi Karanth MDs  Nikhil & Sripathi Karanth MDs  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Dugas Digestive Health  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc Pawtucket, Rhode IslandUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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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 Pawtucket
Nearby Pawtucket Hospitals *Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island The Miriam Hospital Butler Hospital Arbour-Fuller Hospital Providence VA Medical Center Roger Williams Medical Center Our Lady of Fatima Hospital Hasbro Children's Hospital Rhode Island Hospital Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island Southern New England Rehabilitation Center St Joseph Health Services Bradley Hospital Sturdy Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island Eleanor Slater Hospital Pastore Center Landmark Medical Center Kent Hospital Taunton State Hospital Morton Hospital & Medical Center Charlton Memorial Hospital Saint Anne's Hospital Milford Regional Medical Center Eleanor Slater Hospital Zambarano Unit Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center Caritas Norwood Hospital New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Westwood Lodge Hospital Massachusetts Hospital School New Bedford Rehabilitation Hospital Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital Hubbard Regional Hospital Newport Hospital Day Kimball Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham St Luke's Hospital Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus Milton Hospital South Shore Hospital Bournewood Hospital South County Hospital Westborough State Hospital Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Quincy Medical Center Faulkner Hospital Caritas Carney Hospital Newton Wellesley Hospital Massachusetts Mental Health Center Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Arbour Hospital UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus Worcester State Hospital Radius Specialty Hospital Boston UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus St Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center New England Baptist Hospital UMass Memorial Medical Center Memorial Campus  Brigham & Women's Hospital  Adcare Hospital of Worcester  Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center  Dana Farber Cancer Institute  Kindred Hospital Boston  Children's Hospital Boston  Franciscan Hospital for Children  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical 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
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Dysphagia
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