Achalasia

What is it?

Achalasia is a rare condition that affects the muscles in your esophagus, which is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. When you have achalasia, the muscles in your esophagus become weak and do not work properly causing trouble swallowing. This can make it difficult for food and liquids to pass through your esophagus and into your stomach.

While you can get achalasia at any age, people between 30 and 60 are more likely to be diagnosed with it.

Diagnosis & Treatment

If you are experiencing symptoms like the ones listed below, your doctor may suspect that you have achalasia. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may perform a test such as an esophageal manometry, which measures the pressure in your esophagus (a tube that connects your mouth to your stomach). Your doctor may also do a test called a barium swallow test, where you drink a liquid that shows up on a X-ray exam to see how it moves through your esophagus.

Although there is no cure for achalasia, there are treatments available to help manage the symptoms. One common treatment is called pneumatic dilation. For this treatment a balloon is inserted into your esophagus and inflated to stretch the muscles and improve swallowing.

Another option is to have surgery. This surgery is called a myotomy, which is where the muscles in the lower part of your esophagus are cut to allow food to pass through more easily.

Depending on your case, your medical team will recommend the best treatment option for you based on your specific situation.

How can I prevent it?

Unfortunately, there is no way to stop from getting achalasia. This condition is not caused by anything you did or did not do.

It is important to seek medical attention if you experience symptoms of achalasia, as early diagnosis and treatment can help manage the symptoms and improve your quality of life. Remember to follow your doctor's advice and take any prescribed medications as directed to help reduce the negative side effects caused by achalasia.