Achalasia Center - Saint Louis Park, MN
Saint Louis Park 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 Saint Louis Park * Park Nicollet Clinic Saint Louis Park Gastroenterology  Park Nicollet Clinic Saint Louis Park Gastroenterology  Park Nicollet Clinic Saint Louis Park Gastroenterology  Park Nicollet Clinic Saint Louis Park Gastroenterology  Park Nicollet Clinic Saint Louis Park Gastroenterology  Park Nicollet Clinic Saint Louis Park Gastroenterology  Park Nicollet Clinic Saint Louis Park Gastroenterology  Park Nicollet Clinic Saint Louis Park Gastroenterology  Park Nicollet Clinic Saint Louis Park Gastroenterology  Minnesota Medical & Rehabilitative Services LLC  HealthPartners Riverside Clinic Gastroenterology  North Clinic  North Clinic  HealthPartners Riverside Clinic Gastroenterology  North Clinic  HealthPartners Riverside Clinic Gastroenterology  North Clinic  North Clinic  Jan Tanghe MD  Frank G Lushine MD  Specialists In Internal Medicine  Hennepin County Medical Center  Hennepin County Medical Center  Hennepin County Medical Center  Hennepin County Medical Center  Hennepin County Medical Center  Hennepin County Medical Center  Hennepin County Medical Center  Azam Ansari MD  Metropolitan Internists  Metropolitan Internists  Regions Digestive Care Center  Regions Digestive Care Center  University Of Minnesota  University Of Minnesota  University Of Minnesota  University Of Minnesota  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Fairview Oxboro Clinics  Aspen Medical Group Bloomington  Minnesota Gastroenterology  Minnesota Gastroenterology  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Platinum Health LLC  Maple Grove Surgical Specialists  Maple Grove Surgical Specialists  Robert A Gill MD  Fairview Ridges Clinic  HealthPartners Coon Rapids Clinic  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Regions Digestive Care Center  Health Partners Gastroenterology  Regions Digestive Care Center  Regents Digestive Care Center  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Minnesota Gastroenterology PA West Metro  Sabina Khan MD  Fairview Red Wing Health Services  Mankato Clinic Gastroenterology  CentraCare Clinic Health Plaza  CentraCare Clinic Health Plaza  CentraCare Clinic Health Plaza  CentraCare Clinic Health Plaza  CentraCare Clinic Health Plaza  CentraCare Clinic Health Plaza  CentraCare Clinic Health Plaza Saint Louis Park, MinnesotaUpcoming 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 Saint Louis Park
Nearby Saint Louis Park Hospitals *Methodist Hospital Regency Hospital of Minneapolis Fairview Southdale Hospital Abbott Northwestern Hospital Children's Hospitals and Clinics Minneapolis Phillips Eye Institute Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute North Memorial Medical Center Hennepin County Medical Center University of Minnesota Medical Center Fairview Riverside Campus University of Minnesota Medical Center Fairview University Campus Shriners Hospital for Children Twin Cities Minneapolis VA Medical Center Children's Hospitals and Clinics St Paul St Joseph's Hospital United Hospital Unity Hospital Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospital Saint Paul Regions Hospital Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare St Francis Regional Medical Center Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center Fairview Ridges Hospital Mercy Hospital St John's Hospital Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center Woodwinds Health Campus Ridgeview Medical Center Lakeview Hospital Regina Medical Center Queen of Peace Hospital Buffalo Hospital Hudson Hospital Fairview Lakes Medical Center Monticello-Big Lake Hospital Northfield 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. |
Suggested Reading on Achalasia by Our Doctors
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Vitiligo
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Dysphagia
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Esophagitis
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The Digestive System
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