Achalasia Center - Sandy Springs, GA
Sandy Springs 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 Sandy Springs * Christopher D Sarzen MD PC  Kaiser Permanente  Kaiser Permanente  Gastroenterology Atlanta LLC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Lee Oberman MD PC  Gastroenterology Consultants PC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Metro Atlanta Gastroenterology LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Gastroenterology of North Georgia  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Kathryn Mettler MD  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Comprehensive Gastroenterology  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Mario E Ravry MD & Mario J R Ravry MD  Cynthia S Rudert MD  Gastroenterology & Nutrition Clinic PC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Emory University Digestive Diseases  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  The Emory Clinic Gastroenterology  North Atlanta Gastroenterology PC  Gastric Health Institute  Thomas J Demarco MD  Alpharetta Gastroenterology Associates PC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Consultative Gastroenterology  Del Mazo Medical Services  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Consultative Gastroenterology  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Northeast Atlanta Associates Gastroenterology  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Atlanta Digestive Center LLC  Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology  Atlanta Center for Gastroenterology  Dekalb Gastroenterology Associates  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Gastroenterology Specialists of Dekalb  Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Richard Chernecky MD  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Gastroenterology Specialists Gwinnett PC  Bennett H Bruckner MD  Johns Creek Gastroenterology  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Southern Gastroenterology Associates LLC  Westside Gastroenterology Associates  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Yoon J Lee MD  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia PC  Atlanta South Gastroenterology  Atlanta South Gastroenterology Sandy Springs, GeorgiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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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 Sandy Springs
Nearby Sandy Springs Hospitals *Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite Northside Hospital Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital Piedmont Hospital Shepherd Center Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital Ridgeview Institute Emory Adventist Hospital Atlanta VA Medical Center Hillside Hospital Children's Healthcare at Egleston Emory University Hospital North Fulton Regional Hospital Laurel Heights Hospital Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Kindred Hospital Atlanta DeKalb Medical Center Emory University Hospital Midtown Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta Atlanta Medical Center DeKalb Medical Grady Health System Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth Wellstar Cobb Hospital Devereux Georgia Treatment Network Glancy Rehabilitation Center Emory Johns Creek Hospital Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta Regency Hospital of South Atlanta South Fulton Medical Center DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale Emory Eastside Medical Center Gwinnett Medical Center Anchor Hospital Northside Hospital Forsyth SummitRidge Center for Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine Northside Hospital Cherokee Southern Regional Medical Center Wellstar Douglas Hospital Inner Harbour Hospitals Wellstar Paulding Hospital Rockdale Medical Center Henry Medical Center Cartersville Medical Center Piedmont Fayette Hospital Tanner Medical Center Villa Rica 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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Dysphagia
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