Esophageal Motility Disorder in Washington
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Find a ProviderWhat is esophageal motility disorder?
Esophageal motility disorder, also called esophageal dysmotility, is a condition in which the muscles in the esophagus fail to contract, and the esophagus is unable to transport food and liquids to the stomach adequately. Esophageal motility disorder is also an umbrella term for swallowing disorders as a whole which could include:
- Nutcracker esophagus
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Inefficient esophageal motility disorder
- Hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter
- Achalasia
- Diffuse esophageal spasm
Along with secondary esophageal motility disorders with some relation to:
- Diabetes
- Mellitus
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Scleroderma
If you or a member of your family struggle with swallowing, it may be due to esophageal motility disorder. Request an appointment at a Washington Gastroenterology location in your community for help. Our board-certified GI providers manage and treat esophageal motility disorder for patients throughout Washington.
What are some causes of esophageal motility disorder?
There is no single cause for esophageal motility disorder. The reasons will be specific to the particular condition you are diagnosed with and typically include the following:
- Weak muscles in the esophagus
- Spasms in the esophagus
- Malignant or benign strictures
- Neuromuscular abnormality
- Neurological abnormality
What are some of the symptoms of esophageal motility disorder?
Some common signs and symptoms of esophageal motility disorder in Washington patients include:
- Struggle with swallowing
- Low-quality sleep
- Chest pain
- Acid reflux and heartburn
- Recurrent pneumonia
- Unexplained weight loss
- The sensation of food blocking your neck or chest
- Regurgitation
- Anxiety
If you are struggling with the above-listed symptoms, contact a local Washington Gastroenterology location at your earliest convenience.
What are the treatments for esophageal motility disorder?
The usual methods of treating esophageal motility disorder may include (but are not limited to):
- Botulinum toxin or Botox® injections in the areas suffering spasms
- Medications to treat muscle spasms
- Heller myotomy (the division of the esophageal sphincter muscle to permit passage of food)
- Balloon dilation of the lower esophagus to disrupt the abnormal obstructing sphincter
- Surgical manipulation of the valve at the lower esophageal sphincter to decrease pressure on the muscle
Clinical trials are constantly being conducted to discover new treatments and to increase the efficacy of treatments currently in existence. To learn more regarding the treatment options available for esophageal motility disorder in Washington, we encourage you to request an appointment with one of our gastroenterology specialists.
Cutting-edge research into esophageal motility disorder
The experts at Washington Gastroenterology work diligently to perform research regarding esophageal motility disorder and other conditions impacting the GI system. If you or someone you love are struggling with symptoms like acid reflux, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and regurgitation, then we encourage you to request an appointment with a local gastroenterology provider at Washington Gastroenterology as soon as possible. Our specialists provide a patient-focused, personalized method for treating and managing esophageal motility disorder for Washington individuals.
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