Achalasia

The term Achalasia can be usually defined as the lack of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and also the presence of esophagus motility abnormalities. Achalasia is usually a form of disease of the muscle of the esophagus (which is usually known as swallowing tube). The term achalasia means "failure to relax" and inability of the lower esophageal sphincter (the ring of muscle situated between the lower esophagus and the stomach) to open and which helps let the food pass into the stomach.

Signs and Symptoms:The main symptoms of achalasia are dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), regurgitation of undigested food, chest pain behind the sternum, and weight loss. Dysphagia tends to become progressively worse over time and to involve both fluids and solids. Some people may also experience coughing when lying in a horizontal position. The chest pain experienced, also known as cardiospasm and non-cardiac chest pain can often be mistaken for a heart attack.

Disease statistics: Achalasia is an uncommon swallowing disorder that affects about 1 in every 100,000 people. Disease affects mostly adults between ages 30s and 50s. It occurs equally in males and females. It is typically diagnosed in adults, but can occur in children as well.