Achalasia is a rare, often painful condition that affects the nerves and muscles in your oesophagus. It’s a condition where people can swallow foods and liquids, but they don’t pass to the stomach. This happens because there’s nerve damage at the bottom of the oesophagus to the lower oesophageal sphincter.
As a result of the nerve damage, the sphincter cannot open to allow food and drink to pass from the throat to the stomach. Achalasia also causes damage to other parts of the oesophagus so that food and drink don’t travel as smoothly to the bottom of the oesophagus. Achalasia is a chronic condition without a cure, but certain treatments and therapies can help you lead a normal life.
As with many illnesses and conditions, there are certain signs and symptoms of achalasia. These signs and symptoms will vary from person to person, but they typically start slowly and worsen the longer you have this condition. Here are some of the most common symptoms:
Some of the symptoms you experience result from achalasia, while others happen because of how achalasia affects your ability to consume foods and drinks. When the things you ingest sit above your stomach but can’t enter, it often leads to regurgitation, vomiting, heartburn, and other symptoms.
Unfortunately, researchers don’t know the exact cause of achalasia. While we know it’s a condition where the muscles and nerves in the oesophagus don’t function properly, it’s unknown what causes this nerve damage in the first place. Researchers have a few theories that they believe can cause achalasia.
Additionally, there are no known risk factors that put certain people more at risk than others for developing achalasia. While achalasia’s causes and risk factors are unknown, it’s important to note if you’re displaying symptoms. Achalasia can lead to serious cases of pneumonia, dangerous weight loss, oesophageal cancer, and reduced quality of life if you don’t receive treatment.
While the cause and cure of achalasia are unknown, there are several tests and methods doctors can use to diagnose the condition. Your doctor will start by considering your physical symptoms, but they aren’t enough for a concrete diagnosis. Here are additional diagnostic tests your doctor will use.
X-rays can reveal the presence of a build-up of food or drink at the bottom of your oesophagus. This is a sign that your consumption isn’t reaching your stomach.
Your doctor will have you swallow a liquid they track to determine if it passes into your stomach.
This will test the functionality of your oesophageal muscles and whether or not they’re working properly.
Using this endoscopy test, your doctor uses a camera that goes down your throat to see if there are visible problems with your oesophagus.
While there’s no known cure for achalasia, several treatments can help manage the condition and help you live a normal life.
Surgery is the most effective option and is where the muscles in your lower oesophagus are cut to keep them from closing.
Balloon Dilation is the most common alternative to surgery and is where a balloon is partially inflated in your oesophagus to allow food to pass into your stomach.
Medications can help your oesophageal muscles relax and may provide short-term relief.
Using one of these treatment methods, your doctor can help manage your achalasia so that you can live a normal life.