Achalasia Center - Waco, TX
Waco 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 Waco * Waco Gastroenterology Associates  Waco Gastroenterology Associates  Waco Gastroenterology Associates  Waco Gastroenterology Associates  Waco Gastroenterology Associates  Waco Gastroenterology Associates  Scott & White Temple Gastroenterology  Scott & White Temple Gastroenterology  Scott & White Temple Gastroenterology  Scott & White Temple Gastroenterology  Scott & White Temple Gastroenterology  Scott & White Temple Gastroenterology  Scott & White Temple Gastroenterology  Scott & White Temple Gastroenterology  Scott & White Temple Gastroenterology  Richard Tay MD  Kenneth L Russell MD  Trinity Mother Frances Health System Clinic  Shahzad M Syed MD  Southwestern Digestive Health  Gastroenterology Center  Southwest Gastroenterology Clinic  Southwest Gastroenterology Clinic  Naum I Becker MD  Gastrointestinal & Liver Associates of North Texas  Austin Gastroenterology PA  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA Site 12  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA Site 22  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA Site 13  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA Site 13  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Arlington Gastroenterology Services  Navin T Parekh MD  Robert D Burgos MD  Venkat Namburu MD  Scott & White Healthcare Clinic Round Rock Hospital  JPS Health Network Hospitalist Program  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Liver Consultants of Texas  Nataraj G Kasal MD  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Marlon F Levy MD  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Gastroenterology Associates of North Texas LLP  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA Site 37  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA Site 37  Texas Digestive Disease Consultants  Fort Worth Digestive Association PA  Texas Digestive Disease Consultants  Texas Digestive Disease Consultants  Texas Digestive Disease Consultants  Kalman Narayan MD  Peter J Naus MD  Peter J Naus Jr. MD  Texas Digestive Disease Consultants  Texas Digestive Disease Consultants  Howard Stein MD  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA Site 16  Austin Gastroenterology PA  Austin Gastroenterology PA  Robert J Just MD  Austin Gastroenterology PA  Jay G Beckwith DO PA  UNT Health Science Internal Medicine  UNT Health Science Internal Medicine  UNT Health Science Internal Medicine  Gastroenterology Associates PA  Gastroenterology Associates PA  Central Texas Digested Disease Associates  Central Texas Digested Disease Associates  Central Texas Digested Disease Associates  Central Texas Digested Disease Associates  Central Texas Digested Disease Associates  The Liver Institute at Methodist Dallas  The Liver Institute at Methodist Dallas  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA Site 13  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA Site 13  Charles J Lostak MD  Scott & White at College Station  Scott & White at College Station  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA  Digestive Health Associates of Texas PA  Digestive Health Associates of Texas, PA Site 9  Digestive Health Associates of Texas, PA Site 9  Digestive Health Associates of Texas, PA Site 9  Digestive Health Associates of Texas, PA Site 9  Digestive Health Associates of Texas, PA Site 9  Digestive Health Associates of Texas, PA Site 9  Digestive Health Associates of Texas, PA Site 9 Waco, TexasUpcoming 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 Waco
Nearby Waco Hospitals *Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center Central Texas VA Healthcare System Waco Providence Healthcare Network Falls Community Hospital & Clinic Lake Whitney Medical Center Goodall-Witcher Hospital Hill Regional Hospital Central Texas VA Healthcare System Temple 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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