Warning Signs Of Esophageal Achalasia

Diagnosing The Condition

A diagnosis of esophageal achalasia is typically suspected on the basis of the patient’s medical history, especially if they describe a worsening of their symptoms, specifically swallowing difficulties of solid and liquid food over a period of many months or years. Patients may also experience regurgitation, chest pain, weight loss, and heartburn, leading a doctor to suspect esophageal achalasia as the culprit. There are three main ways for an individual to be diagnosed with this condition: an esophageal manometry, an X-ray of the upper digestive system, and an upper endoscopy.

An esophageal manometry is a test that measures the rhythmic muscle contractions of the esophagus when the patient swallows, as well as the coordination and force of these muscles, and how the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes and opens during swallowing. An X-ray is taken after the individual drinks a chalky liquid, which allows a physician to see the silhouette of the esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine. The liquid or a barium pill can also show if there is a blockage of the esophagus through an X-ray too. An upper endoscopy is a camera that goes down the patient’s throat that examines the esophagus and stomach and tosee if there is a blockage anywhere.

Uncover some of the different foods a patient can eat when experiencing esophageal achalasia.