WHAT IS AN ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY DISORDER?

The esophagus is a muscular tube that extends from the neck to the abdomen and connects the back of the throat to the stomach. When a person swallows, the coordinated muscular contractions of the esophagus propel the food or fluid from the throat to the stomach. If the muscular contractions become discoordinated or weak, interfering with movement of food down the esophagus, this condition is known as a motility disorder. Motility disorders cause difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation of food, and, in some people, a spasm-type pain.

The esophagus is a muscular tube that extends from the neck to the abdomen and connects the back of the throat to the stomach. (Click on the illustration to enlarge it.)

WHAT IS ACHALASIA?

Achalasia is one of several subtypes of esophageal motility disorders. It is characterized by the absence of muscular contractions in the lower half of the esophagus and by failure of the valve at the bottom of the esophagus to open and let food into the stomach. People with achalasia experience a progressive difficulty in eating solid food and in drinking liquids that can take years to evolve. They often experience regurgitation, and sometimes have spasm-type chest pain. They require much more time than the average person to eat a meal because food traverses the esophagus so slowly. People with achalasia also sometimes lose weight when their condition becomes advanced.

WHAT CAUSES ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY DISORDERS AND ACHALASIA?

The reasons for why the esophageal muscles fail to contract normally in patients with motility disorders, including achalasia, are unknown. It is likely that the reasons for failure of coordinated muscle contractions depend on the type of motility disorder. In patients with achalasia there are nerve cells within the muscle layers of the esophagus that appear to degenerate for reasons that are not currently understood. Similar problems have not been identified in patients with other types of motility disorders.

HOW COMMON IS ACHALASIA, AND WHO GETS IT?

Achalasia develops in about 2,000 people in the U.S. annually. It usually is diagnosed in adults, but can occur in children as well. 

These are rare, debilitating physical conditions that are often not well understood by Medical Professionals or friends and family members of sufferers.