Achalasia Center - Reading, PA
Reading 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 Reading * Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Digestive Disease Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Hepatology Associates Inc  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  Brandywine GI Associates Ltd  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  West Chester GI Associates  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Glenn S Freed DO  Pottsville Internist Associates  Richard C Hawley MD  Integrated Medical Group PC Gastroenterology  Integrated Medical Group PC Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterologists & Liver Specialists  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Drs Stelzer Cornell Taus Auteri & Helwig GI Associates  Lebanon Internal Medicine Assoc  Lebanon Internal Medicine Assoc  Lebanon Internal Medicine Assoc  Gateway Medical Internal Medicine  Good Sameritan Gastro Interology Assoc.  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates of Lancaster  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Lancaster Gastroenterology  Regional Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Main Line Gastroenterology Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Upper Bucks Medical Associates  Tomasz J Niewiarowski MD  Edward C Chen MD  Solga Gastroenterology  Solga Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Buxmont Gastroenterology  Montgomery County GI Specialists  Montgomery County GI Specialists  Montgomery County GI Specialists Reading, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-20
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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 Reading
Nearby Reading Hospitals *The Reading Hospital & Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Reading Rehabilitation Hospital St Joseph Medical Center Wernersville State Hospital Ephrata Community Hospital Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Brandywine Hospital Coatesville VA Medical Center Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center Lebanon VA Medical Center Saint John Vianney Hospital The Good Samaritan Hospital KidsPeace Children's Hospital Phoenixville Hospital Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest Schuylkill Medicall Center South Jackson Street Schuylkill Medical Center East Norwegian Street Lancaster General Hospital Philhaven Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital St Luke's Hospital Allentown Campus Lancaster Regional Medical Center Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital Malvern Institute Lehigh Valley Hospital 17th & Chew Streets Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Allentown Eagleville Hospital Paoli Hospital The Chester County Hospital Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital LifeCare Hospitals of Chester County Sacred Heart Hospital St Luke's Quakertown Hospital Devereux Beneto Children's Behavioral Health Center Grand View Hospital Valley Forge Medical Center & Hospital Allentown State Hospital Montgomery County Emergency Service St Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital Norristown State Hospital St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem Campus Westfield Hospital Montgomery Hospital Good Shepherd Home Bethlehem Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg 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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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the esophagus. Risk factors of cancer of the esophagus include smoking, heavy alcohol use, Barrett's esophagus, being male and being over age 60. Severe weight loss, vomiting, hoarseness, coughing up blood, painful swallowing, and pain in the throat or back are symptoms. Treatment depends upon the size, location and staging of the cancer and the health of the patient.
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Vitiligo
- Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin turns white due to the loss of pigment from the melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin that gives the skin color.
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Eosinophilic Esophagitis
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Dysphagia
- Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, swallowing problems. Dysphagia is due to problems in nerve or muscle control. It is common, for example, after a stroke. Dysphagia compromises nutrition and hydration and may lead to aspiration pneumonia and dehydration.
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Esophagitis
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The Digestive System
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Esophageal Cancer
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