Achalasia Center - Portsmouth, VA
Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth * Joseph B Hollis MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Eastern Virginia Medical School  Gastroenterology & Hepatology Nutrition  Lakeview Medical Center Inc  Lakeview Medical Center Inc  Gastroenterology Associates of Tidewater PC  Gastroenterology Associates of Tidewater PC  Gastroenterology Associates of Tidewater PC  Gastroenterology Associates of Tidewater PC  Gastroenterology Associates of Tidewater PC  Gastroenterology Associates of Tidewater PC  Gastrointestinal & Liver Specialists of Tidewater PLLC  Gastrointestinal & Liver Specialists of Tidewater PLLC  Gastrointestinal & Liver Specialists of Tidewater PLLC  Gastrointestinal & Liver Specialists of Tidewater PLLC  Gastrointestinal & Liver Specialists of Tidewater PLLC  Marechal-Neil Brooks MD  Gastroenterology Associates of Tidewater PC  Digestive & Liver Disease Specialists  Digestive & Liver Disease Specialists  Digestive & Liver Disease Specialists  Digestive & Liver Disease Specialists  Digestive & Liver Disease Specialists  Digestive & Liver Disease Specialists  Digestive & Liver Disease Specialists  Digestive & Liver Disease Specialists  Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Consultants  Hampton Roads Gastroenterology PC  Hampton Roads Gastroenterology PC  Hampton Roads Gastroenterology PC  Hampton Roads Gastroenterology PC  Hampton Roads Gastroenterology PC  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Consultants  Family Medical Practitioners  Peninsula Gastroenterology PC  Peninsula Gastroenterology PC  Peninsula Gastroenterology PC  Peninsula Gastroenterology PC  Peninsula Gastroenterology PC  Peninsula Gastroenterology PC  Colonial Gastroenterology  Colonial Gastroenterology  Port Warwick Internal Medicine  Colonial Gastroenterology  Colonial Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Ltd  Center for Health & Cancer Prevention  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Gastroenterology Ltd  Williamsburg Gastroenterology  Williamsburg Gastroenterology  Internal Medicine Associates  Eastern Shore Physicians & Surgeons  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Horace J Jackson MD  Emporia Medical Associates  John Michaels MD  MCV Physicians  VCU Children's Medical Center  MCV Physicians  MCV Physicians  MCV Physicians  VCU Children's Medical Center  Peter Goodman MD  Gastrointestinal Specialists Inc  Gastrointestinal Specialists Inc  Gastrointestinal Specialists Inc  Gastrointestinal Specialists Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Specialists Inc  Drs Latham & Latham  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Specialists Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Specialists Inc  Gastrointestinal Specialists Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Richmond Gastroenterology Associates Inc Portsmouth, VirginiaUpcoming 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 Portsmouth
Nearby Portsmouth Hospitals *Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Children's Hospital of The King's Daughter Harbour Pointe Medical Center & Rehabilitation Center Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital Riverside Rehabilitation Institute Sentara Leigh Hospital The Barry Robinson Center Chesapeake General Hospital Hampton VA Medical Center Sentara Bayside Hospital Riverside Behavioral Health Center Sentara Obici Hospital Sentara CarePlex Hospital Riverside Regional Medical Center Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center Mary Immaculate Hospital Southampton 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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