Achalasia Center - Woonsocket, RI
Woonsocket 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 Woonsocket * Nikhil & Sripathi Karanth MDs  Nikhil & Sripathi Karanth MDs  Steven B Kirschner MD  Philip J Opalenski MD  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Consultants In Gastroenterology  University Medical Group  Atwood Gastroenterology Services  University Medical Group  University Medical Group  University Medical Group  Consultants In Gastroenterology  Consultants In Gastroenterology  Consultants In Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  Gastroenterology Associates Inc  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Women & Infants Hospital  University Gastroenterology  Women & Infants Hospital  Women & Infants Hospital  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Women & Infants Hospital  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates Inc  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  University Medicine Foundation  Medical Group of Rhode Island Inc  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Dugas Digestive Health  University Gastroenterology  University Gastroenterology  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc  Gastroenterology Specialists Inc Woonsocket, Rhode IslandUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
2012-05-28
2012-06-10
2012-06-16
2012-07-01
2012-07-03
2012-07-14
2012-07-15
2012-08-19
2012-11-11
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 Woonsocket
Nearby Woonsocket Hospitals *Landmark Medical Center Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island Milford Regional Medical Center Arbour-Fuller Hospital Our Lady of Fatima Hospital Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island The Miriam Hospital Providence VA Medical Center Roger Williams Medical Center Butler Hospital Eleanor Slater Hospital Zambarano Unit Sturdy Memorial Hospital Hasbro Children's Hospital Rhode Island Hospital Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island Southern New England Rehabilitation Center St Joseph Health Services Bradley Hospital Hubbard Regional Hospital Eleanor Slater Hospital Pastore Center Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital Caritas Norwood Hospital Westwood Lodge Hospital Kent Hospital Westborough State Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Day Kimball Hospital Taunton State Hospital Morton Hospital & Medical Center UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus Worcester State Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton St Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center Massachusetts Hospital School New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center UMass Memorial Medical Center Memorial Campus Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham Adcare Hospital of Worcester Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus Newton Wellesley Hospital Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital Bournewood Hospital Charlton Memorial Hospital Harrington Memorial Hospital Saint Anne's Hospital Milton Hospital Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree Faulkner Hospital Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Massachusetts Mental Health Center Arbour Hospital Caritas Carney Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children Kindred Hospital Boston VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus New England Baptist Hospital Quincy Medical Center  Radius Specialty Hospital Boston  UMass Memorial Clinton Hospital  Brigham & Women's Hospital  South Shore Hospital  Dana Farber Cancer Institute  Children's Hospital Boston  Arbour HRI Hospital  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center  McLean 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
