The esophagus is the channel that leads from the throat to the stomach. The walls of the esophagus propel food to the stomach with rhythmic waves of muscular contractions called peristalsis. Where the throat connects to the esophagus, there is a band of muscle called the upper esophageal sphincter. Slightly above the juncture of the esophagus and the stomach, there is another band of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter. When the esophagus is not in use, these sphincters contract so that food and stomach acid don't flow up from the stomach to the mouth. During swallowing, the sphincters relax so food can pass to the stomach. If these muscular contractions do not function properly, or if they become dis-coordinated or weak, it interferes with the movement of food from the throat to the stomach. The resulting condition is called a motility disorder (Ferguson, M., 2000, p. 1). Motility disorders make it difficult to swallow, cause regurgitation of food and, in some cases, causes spasmodic pain.
Achalasia is one of the many motility disorders of the esophagus in which the pressure at the lower esophageal sphincter is abnormally high and does not relax with swallowing (Ferguson, M., 2000, p. 2). The term "achalasia" is derived from the Greek word for "non-relaxing" (Robinson, R., pg. 1). With achalasia, it is difficult to swallow food. This may only affect solid food at the beginning, but with time, as the condition worsens, the esophagus gets tighter and even swallowing liquids can become a problem.
Achalasia is an uncommon disorder in the United States, affecting men and women equally. This disorder is rare in children. There does not appear to be any genetic basis for this disease, and there is no particular race or ethnic group that is affected more than others are (Ferguson, M., 2000, p. 2). At this time, physicians do not know the underlying cause for this condition.
Like other motility disorders, achalasia is a persistent problem lasting for months or even years (Ferguson, M.
