Achalasia Center - Washington, DC
Washington 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 Washington * Howard University Physicians Department of Medicine  Howard University Physicians  Drs Abrams & Lipson  James H Frank MD  Cesar Rudzki MD  Kaufman Greenlee & Wheaton MDs  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Michael M Phillips MD  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Metropolitan Gastroenterology Group  Michael B Albert MD  Medical Associates of DC Chartered  GW Medical Faculty Associates  GW Medical Faculty Associates  GW Medical Faculty Associates  GW Medical Faculty Associates  GW Medical Faculty Associates  DiGioia LeFevre & Parker MDs  GW Medical Faculty Associates  Drs McMackin & Zimnoch  Ann L B Williams MD  Washington Hospital Center Gastroenterology  Washington Gastroenterology  Washington Hospital Center Gastroenterology  Washington Gastroenterology  Washington Gastroenterology  Enrique A Robles MD  Washington Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Consultants of DC  Washington Hospital Center Gastroenterology  Washington Gastroenterology  Washington Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Consultants of DC  Gastroenterology Consultants of DC  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Gastrointestinal Associates  Georgetown University Hospital Gastroenterology  Georgetown University Hospital Gastroenterology  Georgetown University Hospital Gastroenterology  Georgetown University Hospital Gastroenterology  Georgetown University Hospital Gastroenterology  Georgetown University Hospital Gastroenterology  Georgetown University Hospital Gastroenterology  Georgetown University Hospital Gastroenterology  Prospero A Flores MD  Elizabeth R Myles MD  John Bedeau MD & David Gorray MD  Drs Christopher Harrington & Loughney  Drs Christopher Harrington & Loughney  William S Hughes MD  Drs Christopher Harrington & Loughney Washington, District of ColumbiaWashington, D.C. formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790. The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the Territory into a single entity called the District of Columbia. It is for this reason that the city, while legally named the District of Columbia, is known as Washington, D.C. Upcoming Local Events2012-06-09
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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 Washington
Nearby Washington Hospitals *Howard University Hospital The George Washington University Hospital The Specialty Hospital of Washington Children's National Medical Center National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington DC VA Medical Center Washington Hospital Center Georgetown University Hospital Providence Hospital The HSC Pediatric Center Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Psychiatric Institute of Washington Walter Reed Army Medical Center The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Sibley Memorial Hospital United Medical Center Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Washington Adventist Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Inova Alexandria Hospital Dominion Hospital Holy Cross Hospital National Institutes of Health Suburban Hospital Doctors Community Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Fort Washington Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Laurel Regional Hospital Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Montgomery General Hospital Reston Hospital Center Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Howard County General Hospital Potomac Hospital Civista Medical Center Prince William Hospital Anne Arundel Medical Center Baltimore Washington Medical Center Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City Spring Grove Hospital Center Saint Agnes Hospital Harbor Hospital Center North Spring Behavioral Healthcare Calvert Memorial Hospital Kernan Hospital Bon Secours Baltimore Health System Graydon Manor Behavioral Health Northwest Hospital Baltimore VA Medical Center Springfield Hospital Center University of Maryland Medical Center University Specialty Hospital Mercy Medical Center Maryland General 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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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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