The Most Common Ailments Of The Esophagus

The esophagus is an important organ of the digestive system which helps in swallowing food. It is a long pipe-like structure that connects the mouth to the stomach and helps in carrying the food. The esophagus has certain sphincter muscles that open and close on reflexes as food enters the mouth so the food can be carried down to the stomach. Although we do not think much about the esophagus, you must know that any ailment of the esophagus can have major consequences if not treated in due time as it can majorly interfere with the process of ingestion of food. As such, on experiencing any discomfort in the food pipe you must immediately visit the best Esophagus doctor in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore or any city where there are speciality clinics for such conditions. Here’s more on the many ailments of the esophagus.

Achalasia: In this condition, the lower esophageal sphincter does not open or relax properly and prevents food from passing into the stomach. This can be an extremely uncomfortable feeling as the food feels stuck in the throat. Although doctors are yet to find the exact cause of this disease, many believe that it is triggered due to auto-immune disorders.

GERD: Another common ailment of the intestine is GERD in which the lower esophageal sphincter does not close properly due to which the stomach juices and contents flow back into the esophagus which is an extremely uncomfortable feeling. This condition must also be treated at the earliest as otherwise, it may lead to various critical ailments.

Barrett’s esophagus: This condition is usually a result of untreated acid reflux. In this condition, due to prolonged exposure to the stomach juices, the esophageal cells of the region where the esophagus meets the stomach start resembling intestinal cells. If left untreated this condition may turn cancerous over time.

Esophageal Diverticulum: In this condition, an outpouching is seen in a weak spot in the esophagus which can again lead to immense discomfort. People with Achalasia are always at a higher risk of developing this condition.

Esophageal cancer: There are primarily two kinds of esophageal cancer, they are adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. While the earlier is usually a result of infections and exposure to radiation, the latter is usually a result of smoking and acid reflux.

Any of these conditions can turn fatal if not treated on time and as such, it is extremely important that you visit the best Esophagus doctor in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad or any city where there are specialists working on such conditions.