Achalasia Center - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix 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 Phoenix * Digestive Health Center Of Arizona  Digestive Health Center Of Arizona  Digestive Health Center Of Arizona  Digestive Health Center Of Arizona  Digestive Health Center Of Arizona  Digestive Health Center Of Arizona  Michael Altman MD  Adriana T Gaidici MD  Arizona Digestive Health PC  Arizona Digestive Health PC  Advanced Gastroenterology of Arizona  Arizona Digestive Health PC  Liver Disease Center  Douglas J Schwartz MD Division of Arizona Digestive Health PC  Advanced Gastroenterology of Arizona  Advanced Gastroenterology of Arizona  Arizona Digestive Health PC  Advanced Care Gastroenterology PC  Arizona Clinic of Gastroenterology  Adult Gastroenterology PLLC  Arizona Gastroenterology Consultants  Clinical Associates  Clinical Associates  Arizona Gastroenterology Consultants  Clinical Associates  Clinical Associates  Clinical Associates  Associated Gastroenterologists LTD  Associated Gastroenterologists LTD  Associated Gastroenterologists LTD  Scottsdale Healthcare Gastroenterology & Endo  Scottsdale Healthcare Gastroenterology & Endo  Scottsdale Healthcare Gastroenterology & Endo  Scottsdale Gastroenterologists  Phoenix GI Associates  Phoenix GI Associates  Arizona Digestive & Liver Disease Consultants  Arizona Digestive & Liver Disease Consultants  Arizona Digestive & Liver Disease Consultants  Arizona Digestive & Liver Disease Consultants  Arizona Digestive & Liver Disease Consultants  Digestive Healthcare Associates LLC  Koppenbrink Internal Medicine  Arizona Gastroenterology & Therapeutic Endoscopy PC  Associated Gastroenterologists LTD  Mesa Gastrointestinal Associates  Mesa Gastrointestinal Associates  Mesa Gastrointestinal Associates  Mesa Gastrointestinal Associates  Mesa Gastrointestinal Associates  Mesa Gastrointestinal Associates  Southwest Medical Specialists  Desert Gastroenterology Associates  North Valley Gastroenterology  Arizona Digestive & Liver Disease Consultants  Arizona Gastroenterology & Liver Clinic  Arizona Gastroenterology & Liver Clinic  Arizona Gastroenterology & Liver Clinic  Arizona Gastroenterology & Liver Clinic  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Daniel A Meline MD  Sukhdeep S Padda MD  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Primary Care 2  Sukhdeep S Padda MD  Baughman & Associates Age Management Medicine LLC  Southwest Digestive Specialists  Larry F Pass MD  Michael S Shapiro MD PLLC  Linda I Shields MD  John M Yalam MD PC  Central Arizona Medical Associates  Central Arizona Medical Associates  Central Arizona Medical Associates  Central Arizona Medical Associates  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Desert Ridge Gastroenterology & Liver Disease  Rekha Shah MD  East Valley Gastroenterology & Hepatology  East Valley Gastroenterology & Hepatology  East Valley Gastroenterology & Hepatology  East Valley Gastroenterology & Hepatology  East Valley Gastroenterology & Hepatology  Southeast Valley Gastroenterology  Southeast Valley Gastroenterology  Southeast Valley Gastroenterology  Southeast Valley Gastroenterology  Cigna Healthcare of Arizona  Cigna Healthcare of Arizona  Advanced Gastroenterlogy PC  Oluwagbenga Serrano MD PLLC  Colon & Digestive Health Specialists Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix was incorporated as a city in 1881 after being founded in 1868 near the Salt River, near its confluence with the Gila River. The city eventually became a major transportation hub in North America and a main transportation, financial, industrial, cultural and economic center of the Southwestern United States. The city has a notable and famous political culture and has been home to numerous influential American politicians and other dignitaries, including Barry Goldwater, William Rehnquist, John McCain, Janet Napolitano, Carl Hayden, and Sandra Day O'Connor. Residents of the city are known as Phoenicians. Upcoming Local Events2012-07-14
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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 Phoenix
Nearby Phoenix Hospitals *Phoenix Memorial Health Care Center Promise Hospital of Phoenix Banner Good Samaritan Rehabilitation Select Specialty Hospital Phoenix Downtown Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Phoenix St Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center St Luke's Behavioral Health Center St Luke's Medical Center Youth Development Institute Kindred Hospital Phoenix Arizona State Hospital Arizona Heart Hospital Maricopa Medical Center Phoenix Children's Hospital Carl T Hayden VA Medical Center Los Ninos Hospital Phoenix Indian Medical Center Phoenix Baptist Hospital Surgical Specialty Hospital of Arizona Maryvale Hospital Medical Center John C Lincoln Hospital North Mountain Tempe St Luke's Hospital Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Select Specialty Hospital Scottsdale Banner Behavioral Health Hospital Banner Estrella Medical Center Banner Thunderbird Medical Center Banner Desert Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Valley of the Sun Rehabilitation Hospital Arizona Orthopedic Surgical Hospital Desert Vista Hospital Paradise Valley Hospital Scottsdale Healthcare Shea HEALTHSOUTH Scottsdale Rehabilitation Hospital Kindred Hospital Scottsdale John C Lincoln Hospital Deer Valley West Valley Hospital Arrowhead Hospital Banner Boswell Medical Center Chandler Regional Hospital Mayo Clinic Hospital Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Arizona Spine & Joint Hospital Banner Gateway Medical Center Mercy Gilbert Medical Center Banner Del E Webb Medical Center Banner Baywood Medical Center Banner Baywood Heart Hospital Mountain Vista Medical Center Gila River Health Care Huhukam 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. |
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Dysphagia
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