Esophageal Motility Disorder in Louisiana

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Esophageal motility disorder, also referred to as esophageal dysmotility, is a condition where the muscles in the esophagus fail to contract. This causes the esophagus to hinder the transport of food and liquids to your stomach. Esophageal motility disorder is also an umbrella term for all swallowing disorders which can include:

  • Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
  • Diffuse esophageal spasm
  • Achalasia
  • Hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
  • Nutcracker esophagus
  • Inefficient esophageal motility disorder

in addition to secondary esophageal motility disorders with some relation to:

  • Scleroderma
  • Mellitus
  • GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
  • Diabetes

If you or a member of your family have difficulty with swallowing, it may be due to this condition. Contact a GastroGroup & Endocenter location in your area for help. Our experienced gastroenterologists commonly manage and treat esophageal motility disorder for individuals throughout Louisiana.

There is no single, primary culprit for esophageal motility disorder. The root causes and conditions are individual in how they are dealt with, and how they present. However, they often include:

  • Spasms in the esophagus
  • Neurological disorder
  • Neuromuscular abnormality
  • Malignant or benign strictures
  • Esophageal muscle weakness

A sample of the most common symptoms and signs of esophageal motility disorder in Louisiana individuals include:

  • Unexplained weight loss
  • The feeling of food getting stuck in your neck or chest
  • Recurrent pneumonia
  • Pain in one's chest
  • Anxiety
  • Acid reflux and heartburn
  • Regurgitation
  • Struggle with swallowing
  • Poor-quality sleep

If you or someone you love experiences these symptoms, get in touch with a local GastroGroup & Endocenter clinic at your earliest convenience.

Some of the common treatments for esophageal motility disorder may include (but are not limited to):

  • Botox® or botulinum toxin injections in the areas suffering spasms
  • Heller myotomy (the division of the esophageal sphincter muscle to permit food to pass through)
  • Balloon dilation of the lower esophagus to disrupt the abnormal obstructing sphincter
  • Medications targeting muscle spasms
  • Surgical manipulation of the valve at the lower esophageal sphincter to reduce the amount of pressure on the muscle

Clinical trials are continually being performed to research new treatments and to improve upon treatments that are currently in practice. To hear more about the treatment options for esophageal motility disorder in Louisiana, we urge you to request a consultation with one of our board-certified gastroenterologists.

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The specialists at GastroGroup & Endocenter work diligently to carry out research regarding esophageal motility disorder in addition to other conditions that affect the GI tract. If you suffer from symptoms like acid reflux, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and regurgitation, then we encourage you to request a meeting with a local GI provider at GastroGroup & Endocenter immediately. We strive to apply a patient-centric and compassionate philosophy to the management and treatment of esophageal motility disorder for Louisiana patients.

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