What is achalasia?
In general, the term achalasia describes a malfunctioning of those parts of the smooth muscles of hollow organs (e.g. gullet, stomach, intestines) that have a closing function.
What is achalasia of the gullet?
In general, this describes the inability of the lower gullet sphincter (oesophagus sphincter or cardia) to sufficiently open for a lump of food to pass into the stomach. In addition to that the motility (peristalsis) of the entire gullet can be negatively affected.
Causes and consequences of achalasia
- dysphagia
- malfunctioning peristaltic of the gullet
- malfunctioning relaxation reflex of the lower oesophageal sphincter
- malfunction of the upper oesophageal sphincter
Sure facts
At the cardia the nerve cells (neurons and ganglia) in the plexus (myenteric plexus/Auerbach’s plexus) are degenerated. This causes a tension of the lower gullet sphincter.
Swallowing difficulties due to:
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Impaired mobility (peristalsis) of the oesophagus
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Impaired swallowing-induced slackening of the lower oesophagus
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Impaired function of the upper oesophageal sphincter
Why?
For this question, merely hypotheses can be formulated:
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autoimmune disorder
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degeneration and decay of cells, tissues and organs
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inheritance
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infection (viral)
Symptoms
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spasmodic pain in the chest
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difficulties to swallow - with food getting stuck in the gullet
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regurgitation of undigested food from the gullet
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digestion problems e.g. bloating
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weight loss up to 20 kilos
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malnutrition
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cough attacks at night due to food reflux
