Achalasia Center - Thornton, CO
Thornton 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 Thornton * Bruce J Weber DO  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Colorado Gastroenterology  Colorado Gastroenterology  Salomon G Garcia MD  Kaiser Permanente  Mile High Gastroenterology PC  Colorado Gastroenterology  Colorado Gastroenterology  Colorado Gastroenterology  National Jewish Health  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Summit Gastroenterology  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Front Range Gastroenterology Associates PC  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  David Rothman DO  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University of Colorado Health Science Center Gastroenterology  Jesse O Sutherland Jr. MD  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  South Denver Gastroenterology PC  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  George S L Chin MD  James Riopelle DO  The Schreiber Clinic PC  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Front Range Gastroenterology Associates PC  Boulder Medical Center  Boulder Medical Center  Longmont Clinic & Carbon Valley Medical Center  SurgOne PC National Bariatric Center  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Steven O Kading MD  Greeley Medical Clinic Gastroenterology  North Colorado Gastroenterology  North Colorado Gastroenterology  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC  Center for Gastroenterology PC Thornton, ColoradoUpcoming 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 Thornton
Nearby Thornton Hospitals *North Suburban Medical Center North Valley Hospital St Anthony North Hospital Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital Kindred Hospital Denver Presbyterian St Luke's Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Denver Exempla Lutheran Medical Center Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center Exempla West Pines Hospital Colorado Acute Hospital St Anthony Central Hospital National Jewish Medical and Research Center Denver Health Medical Center Denver VA Medical Center Rose Medical Center University of Colorado Hospital Denver Centennial Peaks Hospital Avista Adventist Hospital University of Colorado Hospital Aurora Anschutz Medical Campus Platte Valley Medical Center The Children's Hospital Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital The Medical Center of Aurora North Campus Triumph Hospital Aurora Porter Adventist Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Denver South Craig Hospital The Medical Center of Aurora South Campus Swedish Medical Center Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan Boulder Community Foothills Hospital Boulder Community Hospital Littleton Adventist Hospital Centennial Medical Plaza Highlands Behavioral Health System Longmont United Hospital Parker Adventist Hospital Sky Ridge 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. |
Suggested Reading on Achalasia by Our Doctors
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Dysphagia
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