Esophageal Motility Disorder in Baton Rouge, LA
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Find a ProviderWhat exactly is esophageal motility disorder?
Esophageal motility disorder, or esophageal dysmotility, is the condition wherein the musculature of your esophagus fails to contract, and therefore, the esophagus cannot deliver food and liquids into the stomach adequately. Esophageal motility disorder is also an umbrella term for all swallowing disorders, which might include:
- Hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
- Nutcracker esophagus
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Achalasia
- Inefficient esophageal motility disorder
- Diffuse esophageal spasm
Secondary esophageal motility disorders related to:
- Diabetes
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Scleroderma
- Mellitus
If you or a member of your family struggle to swallow, it may be a result of esophageal motility disorder. Contact a Gastroenterology Associates location in your area for help. Our experienced gastroenterology providers commonly treat and manage esophageal motility disorder for patients throughout Baton Rouge, LA.
What are some of the causes of esophageal motility disorder?
There is no specific cause for esophageal motility disorder. The root causes are specific to the distinct condition you suffer from and quite often include:
- Benign or malignant strictures
- Neurological abnormality
- Spasms of the esophagus
- Weakened esophageal muscles
- Neuromuscular abnormality
What are common symptoms of esophageal motility disorder?
A few of the common signs and symptoms of esophageal motility disorder in Baton Rouge, LA patients include:
- Regurgitation
- Sub-optimal sleep
- Recurrent pneumonia
- Feeling of anxiousness
- Pain in one's chest
- Acid reflux and heartburn
- Weight loss
- Trouble with swallowing
- The feeling of food getting stuck in your chest or neck
If you or someone you love suffer from these symptoms, contact a local Gastroenterology Associates location right away.
What are the treatments for esophageal motility disorder?
Some of the typical methods for treating esophageal motility disorder can include (but are not limited to):
- Surgical intervention to allow the valve at the lower esophageal sphincter to reduce pressure on the muscle
- Lower esophageal balloon dilation to improve the function of the abnormal obstructing sphincter
- Botox® or botulinum toxin injection in the affected areas
- Muscle spasm medications
- Heller myotomy (the separation of the esophageal sphincter muscle to allow passage of food)
Clinical trials are continually being carried out to identify unique treatments and increase the efficacy of the treatments currently being used. To learn even more about the types of treatment for esophageal motility disorder in Baton Rouge, LA, please reach out to one of our gastroenterology providers.
Cutting-edge research regarding esophageal motility disorder
The experts at Gastroenterology Associates work diligently to treat esophageal motility disorder and many other diseases that disrupt the GI tract. If you are dealing with symptoms such as acid reflux, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and regurgitation, then we ask that you request a consultation with a Baton Rouge, LA gastroenterology provider at Gastroenterology Associates at your earliest convenience. Our providers work diligently to apply a compassionate and patient-centric philosophy to managing and treating esophageal motility disorder for our patients.
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