Achalasia is a nerve disorder that involves the ring of muscle at the bottom of your esophagus through which food enters the stomach.
When one has achalasia, this ring fails to relax during swallowing, so food doesn’t move as easily from the oesophagus into the stomach.
This then causes food and drink not to pass into the stomach and becomes stuck.
It is then often brought back up.
A rare disorder makes it difficult for food to pass from the oesophagus (food pipe) into the stomach.
The oesophagus is a muscular tube. It carries food from the mouth to the stomach.
Normally, coordinated contractions of smooth muscle move food through the oesophagus. These contractions are called peristaltic waves.
Between the oesophagus and stomach is a muscle called the oesophageal sphincter (LES). The sphincter surrounds the oesophagus. It keeps the oesophagus closed. This prevents food and acid from splashing back up into the oesophagus from the stomach.
When you swallow, this sphincter relaxes. It opens to allow food to pass into the stomach. At the same time, nerves coordinate the contractions of the oesophagus. This moves food into the stomach when the sphincter opens.
In achalasia, the nerve cells in the lower two-thirds of the oesophagus and the sphincter are abnormal.
This causes uncoordinated or weak peristaltic waves and may cause the sphincter to remain closed.
Harvard health publications
Cause
Unknown
Source: link.springer.com
Symptoms
Difficulty swallowing solid food (Swallowing liquids is not affected in the early stages)?
Regurgitation or vomiting of undigested food?
Choking and/or Coughing fits?
Long term persistent indigestion and/or frequent heartburn or constant abdominal pain and swelling?
Chest pain, discomfort, or fullness under the breastbone, especially following meals?
Difficulty in belching (feel full quickly when eating , trapped wind and burping)?
Difficulty swallowing solids and liquids (late in the illness)?
Unexplained Weight loss (late in the illness)?
Harvard health publications
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Achalasia in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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