Achalasia Center - Westminster, CO
Westminster 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 Westminster * 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  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  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Front Range Gastroenterology Associates PC  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Colorado Gastroenterology  Colorado Gastroenterology  Salomon G Garcia MD  Kaiser Permanente  Mile High Gastroenterology PC  Colorado Gastroenterology  Colorado Gastroenterology  Colorado Gastroenterology  National Jewish Health  Summit Gastroenterology  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Denver Digestive Health Specialists  Jesse O Sutherland Jr. MD  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  David Rothman DO  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  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University Hospital Colorado Hepatology  University of Colorado Health Science Center Gastroenterology  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology Associates  James Riopelle DO  George S L Chin MD  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Gastroenterology of the Rockies  Boulder Medical Center  Boulder Medical Center  The Schreiber Clinic PC  Front Range Gastroenterology Associates PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  Arapahoe Gastroenterology PC  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 Westminster, ColoradoUpcoming Local Events2012-05-20
2012-05-20
2012-06-01
2012-06-01
2012-06-03
2012-06-10
2012-06-19
2012-07-14
2012-08-19
2012-09-01
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 Westminster
Nearby Westminster Hospitals *St Anthony North Hospital North Suburban Medical Center North Valley Hospital Exempla Lutheran Medical Center Exempla West Pines Hospital Centennial Peaks Hospital Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center Avista Adventist Hospital St Anthony Central Hospital Colorado Acute Hospital Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital Kindred Hospital Denver Presbyterian St Luke's Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Denver Denver Health Medical Center National Jewish Medical and Research Center Denver VA Medical Center University of Colorado Hospital Denver Rose Medical Center University of Colorado Hospital Aurora Anschutz Medical Campus Porter Adventist Hospital Select Specialty Hospital Denver South The Children's Hospital Boulder Community Foothills Hospital Craig Hospital Platte Valley Medical Center Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital Swedish Medical Center The Medical Center of Aurora North Campus Triumph Hospital Aurora Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan The Medical Center of Aurora South Campus Boulder Community Hospital Littleton Adventist Hospital Centennial Medical Plaza Highlands Behavioral Health System Longmont United Hospital Sky Ridge Medical Center Parker Adventist 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
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
6 articles-
Esophageal Cancer
- Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the esophagus. Risk factors of cancer of the esophagus include smoking, heavy alcohol use, Barrett's esophagus, being male and being over age 60. Severe weight loss, vomiting, hoarseness, coughing up blood, painful swallowing, and pain in the throat or back are symptoms. Treatment depends upon the size, location and staging of the cancer and the health of the patient.
-
Vitiligo
- Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin turns white due to the loss of pigment from the melanocytes, cells that produce the pigment melanin that gives the skin color.
-
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus. Eosinophilic esophagitis has many causes including acid reflux, heartburn, viruses, medications that become stuck in the esophagus, allergy, asthma, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Eosinophilic esophagitis symptoms include difficulty swallowing food, abdominal pain, chest pain, and heartburn.
-
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.
-
Esophagitis
- Esophagitis is caused by an infection or irritation of the esophagus. Infections that cause esophagitis include candida yeast infection of the esophagus as well as herpes.
-
The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
-
Esophageal Cancer
-
Medications
5 articles -
Procedures & Tests
4 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
1 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
1 articles -
Health News
0 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
