Achalasia Center - Portland, OR
Portland 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 Portland * Joseph A Parent Jr. MD PC  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  Oregon Clinic West Hills Gastroenterology  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  The Oregon Clinic Gastrointestinal Division  Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology Associates PC  The Portland Clinic  The Portland Clinic  The Portland Clinic  The Portland Clinic  Kaiser Permanente Mt Talbert Medical Office  Kaiser Permanente Mt Talbert Medical Office  Pacific Digestive Associates PC  Pacific Digestive Associates PC  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon  Hillsboro Gastroenterology  Hillsboro Gastroenterology  Hillsboro Gastroenterology  Hillsboro Gastroenterology  Hillsboro Gastroenterology  Hillsboro Gastroenterology  Patrick R Maveety MD  Tukwila Specialists  Woodburn Internal Medicine  Salem Clinic Main Office  Salem Clinic Main Office  Salem Gastroenterology Consultants  Salem Gastroenterology Consultants  Salem Gastroenterology Consultants  Salem Gastroenterology Consultants  Kaiser Permanente Skyline Medical Office  Albert E Ryckman MD  Terrence Hill MD  The Corvallis Clinic Gastroenterology Portland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the state of Oregon. It has been referred to as the most environmentally friendly or "green" city in the United States, and the 2nd most in the world. The city and region are noted for strong land-use planning and investment in light rail, supported by Metro, a distinctive regional-government. Portland is known for its large number of microbreweries and microdistilleries, and its coffee fanaticism. Upcoming 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 Portland
Nearby Portland Hospitals *Shriners Hospital for Children Oregon Health & Science University Hospital Doernbecher Childrens Hospital at OHSU Portland VA Medical Center Oregon State Hospital Portland Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Providence Portland Medical Center Providence St Vincent Medical Center Providence Milwaukie Hospital Adventist Medical Center Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center Southwest Washington Medical Center Mother Joseph Campus Southwest Washington Medical Center Memorial Campus Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Tuality Community Hospital Providence Newberg Hospital Tuality Forest Grove 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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