Achalasia
achalasia, often referred to simply as achalasia, is a failure of smooth muscle fibers to relax, which can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to remain closed. Without a modifier, "achalasia" usually refers to achalasia of the . Achalasia can happen at various points along the tract; achalasia of the rectum, for instance, may occur in Hirschsprung's disease. The lower esophageal sphincter is a muscle between the esophagus and stomach that opens when food comes in. It closes to avoid stomach acids from coming back up. A fully understood cause to the disease is unknown, as are factors that increase the risk of its appearance. Suggestions of a genetically transmittable form of achalasia exist, but this is neither fully understood, nor agreed upon.
Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.
Symptoms — what it feels like
- ·Anorexia (but willing and trying to eat), inability to swallow food, chest pain comparable to heart attack, lightheadedness, , excessive vomiting after eating (often without ).
Causes — why it happens
- ·Unknown
How it's found
- · manometry, , X-ray, barium swallow study, endoscopy
Prevention
- ·No method of prevention
Treatment
- ·Heller myotomy and fundoplomy, POEM, pneumatic dilation, botulinum toxin
Outlook
- ·~76% chance of survival after 20 years (in a western country such as Germany)