Achalasia – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!

Achalasia – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments  that we should all know. Also,  Achalasia  is a disorder of the esophagus where it loses the ability to move food. The valve at the end of the gullet also does not open and allows food to pass into your stomach. As a result, food gets stuck in your squirt and is often brought back.

A ring of muscle called the lower esophageal (cardiac) sphincter keeps the opening of the squirt closed to prevent acid reflux (acidic contents of the stomach moving back into the squirt).

Normally this muscle relaxes when you swallow to allow food to pass into the stomach, in Achalasia this muscle does not relax properly and the end of its hiding place becomes blocked with food . Achalasia  is an uncommon condition that affects around 6,000 people in Great Britain. It is sometimes known as cardiospasm. So, check out now  Achalasia – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments:

What is the Cause: Achalasia  is caused by damage and loss of nerves in the crayfish wall. The reason for this is unknown, although a viral infection earlier in life may be partially responsible.

Achalasia can also be associated with having an autoimmune condition, where the immune system attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs. A recent study found that people with AHS are significantly more likely to have an autoimmune condition such as Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus or uveitis.

Although achalasia  can occur at any age, it is more common in middle-aged and older adults. There is no evidence to support that achalasia  is an inherited disease . Women with achalasia can have a normal pregnancy and there is no reason why their children should not develop normally.

What are the Symptoms:  Achalasia  symptomscan start at any time in life and usually occur gradually. Most people with eczema have dysphagia, a condition in which they find it difficult and sometimes painful to swallow food .

This tends to get worse over a few years. This can cause you to bring back undigested food right after meals and some of the vomited food may have been kept in your gulp for a while. Carrying undigested food can lead to strangulation and coughing attacks, chest pain and heartburn.

• Occasionally, vomit can dribble out of your mouth and stain your pillow overnight.
• If your windpipe spills, it can cause repeated chest infections and even pneumonia .
• You may experience gradual but significant weight loss.
• However, in some people, achalasia  causes no symptoms and is only discovered when a chest X-ray or other investigation is done for another reason.

How It’s Treated:  The goal of treating Achalasia  is to open the lower esophageal sphincter muscleso that food can easily pass into the stomach. The underlying disease cannot be cured, but there are several ways to relieve symptoms that can improve eating and drinking.

Medication:  The muscle at the lower end of your squirt can be temporarily relaxed by medication. Pills, such as nitrates or nifedipine, can sometimes produce a brief improvement in swallowing, but they are not effective in all patients. They may be helpful while more permanent treatment is planned. These pills can cause headaches, but this will usually improve your achalasia and help with treatment.

Dilation (Muscle Stretching):  This is done under a sedative or general anesthetic (where you are lying down). A balloon (about 3-4 cm in diameter) is used to stretch and disturb the muscle fibers of the sphincter muscle at the lower end of your esophagus . This usually improves swallowing, but it may need to be done several times or repeated after one or more years to get rid of achalasia once and for all . Balloon dilation carries the risk of esophageal rupture which may require emergency surgery.

Botulinum Toxin (Botox Injection):  Botox causes muscle fiber relaxation. It can be injected painlessly into the lower esophageal sphincter muscle through an endoscope.
This is usually effective for a few months and occasionally for a few years, but it has to be repeated. Botox can be used for temporary relief in people who are unable to have other treatments.

Surgery:  Under general anesthesia, the accessory is accessed through the abdomen (tummy) or, rarely, the chest. Lower esophageal sphincter muscle fibers that cannot relax are divided. This usually leads to a permanent improvement in swallowing. The operation is now performed by keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) and requires only one hospital stay.