What is achalasia ?

Swallowing disorder: Achalasia is a disorder of the muscles of the esophagus leading to swallowing problems. It usually has two components: 1) failure of propulsive ("peristaltic") contraction of the muscles of the body of the esophagus; and 2) failure to relax of the lower esophageal sphincter (the outlet of the esophagus into the stomach). Both lead to obstructive symptoms and gradual dilation of the esophagus.

Motor disorder: Achalasia is a motor disorder of the esophagus. Achalasia is characterized by two things: 1) failure of relaxation of the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach when swallowing, 2) no normal mobement of the esophagus. Best treatment is minimal invasive surgery (or robotic) cutting muscle and a partial "wrap" procedure called heller myotomy with fundoplication.

Broken esophagus: Achalasia is where the esophagus does not function to propel food into the stomach. Because the valve entering the stomach usually only opens when it gets a signal that food is coming from the esophagus, it tends to rarely open due to this lack of function of the esophagus. The valve then gets stiff, and prevents passage of food into the stomach. Treatment is aimed at permanently opening the valve.

Achalasia: Inability of esophagus to move food down toward stomach. May be neurological or infectious in origin. Some autoimmune causes as well.

No function: Basically, the esophagus doesn't work to propel the food into the stomach in a coordinated fashion because the nerves that coordinate this function don't work. Cause is typically unknown, but probably related to a viral infection somehow. Treatment is directed at opening the lower esophageal valve to relieve the symptoms (no cure for the nerves). The newest treatment is poem.

Achalasia: This is a progressive disorder of the esophagus in which the esophagus no longer has the ability to push food into the stomach and at the same time, the lower esophageal sphincter pressure is increased. The most common symptoms are difficulty swallowing and regurgitation. Symptoms may be confused with gerd. Diagnosis is made with endoscopy, x-rays, and esophageal manometry.

Esophageal disorder: Achalasia, rare disorder, affects the ability of the esophagus to move food toward the stomach.Muscular ring, sphincter, where esophagus and stomach come together normally relaxes during swallowing. In people with achalasia, sphincter does not relax as well. The reason for this problem is damage to the nerves of the esophagus.Can be idiopathic, caused by infection, or sometimes cancer.

Achalasia: It is a motility disorder of the esophagus when the distal esophagus at the junction with the stomach can not relax, therefore difficult to pass solids and liquids into the stomach. See full info educational info at http://en.Wikipedia.Org/wiki/achalasia and/or http://www.Mayoclinic.Org/achalasia/.

Esophageal prob: Problem with the swallowing tube not working normally.