Achalasia Center - Prescott Valley, AZ
Prescott Valley 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 Prescott Valley * Edward B Gogek MD  Prescott Gastroenterology  Digestive Disease Specialists  Prescott Gastroenterology  Digestive Disease Specialists  Joan C Mitrius MD  Joan C Mitrius MD  Joan C Mitrius MD  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Sukhdeep S Padda MD  Sukhdeep S Padda MD  North Valley Gastroenterology  Arizona Digestive & Liver Disease Consultants  Arizona Gastroenterology & Liver Clinic  Arizona Gastroenterology & Liver Clinic  Desert Ridge Gastroenterology & Liver Disease  Arizona Gastroenterology & Liver Clinic  Arizona Gastroenterology & Liver Clinic  Arizona Gastroenterology & Liver Clinic  Baughman & Associates Age Management Medicine LLC  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  Banner Arizona Medical Clinic Primary Care 2  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Clinic For Digestive Disease PC  Cigna Healthcare of Arizona  Arizona Clinic of Gastroenterology  Cigna Healthcare of Arizona  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  Gavin N Levinthal MD  Associated Gastroenterologists LTD  Associated Gastroenterologists LTD  Koppenbrink Internal Medicine  Arizona Gastroenterology & Therapeutic Endoscopy PC  Associated Gastroenterologists LTD  Digestive Health Specialists  Digestive Health Specialists  Digestive Health Specialists  Digestive Health Specialists  Colon & Digestive Health Specialists  Colon & Digestive Health Specialists  Colon & Digestive Health Specialists  Colon & Digestive Health Specialists  Associated Gastroenterologists LTD  Arizona Gastroenterology Consultants  Clinical Associates  Clinical Associates  Arizona Gastroenterology Consultants  Clinical Associates  Clinical Associates  Clinical Associates  Digestive Healthcare Associates LLC  Adult Gastroenterology PLLC  Southwest Digestive Specialists  Scottsdale Healthcare Gastroenterology & Endo  Larry F Pass MD  Scottsdale Healthcare Gastroenterology & Endo  Michael S Shapiro MD PLLC  Linda I Shields MD  John M Yalam MD PC  Daniel A Meline MD  Phoenix GI Associates  Phoenix GI Associates  Hugo L Pinillos MD  Advanced Care Gastroenterology PC  Hugo L Pinillos MD  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic  Mayo Clinic Prescott Valley, ArizonaUpcoming 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 Prescott Valley
Nearby Prescott Valley Hospitals *Northern Arizona VA Health Care System Yavapai Regional Medical Center Verde Valley 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. |
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