Esophageal Motility Disorders: Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis

On occasion, most people have experienced minor spasms or discomfort when eating, causing an instance of choking or coughing. When these episodes become frequent with swallowing difficulties, food regurgitation and pain, there is the possibility that an esophageal motility disorder is present. The esophagus connects the back of the throat to the stomach with a tubal muscle extending from the neck to the abdomen.

Causes

• Patients without muscle contractions in the lower esophagus, achalasia, appear to have cell degeneration of the nerve cells within the muscle layers of the esophagus. This could be among the unknown reasons why esophageal muscles fail to function normally.

Symptoms

• Primarily a person may have an esophageal motility disorder if he has problems swallowing the majority of the time. Eating solid food, regurgitation, weight loss and painful chest spasms could also indicate a problem.

Diagnosing

• A medical professional can order lab tests to confirm a patient's condition. These tests include X-ray, endoscopy or manometry.

Treatment

• Prescription drugs may be administered to relax the disruptive esophageal muscle or acid activity. Surgery is another option of treatment to correct the disorder.

Conclusion

• Esophageal motility disorder should be monitored under the services of a medical professional. Any changes or complications can be communicated accurately to the patient.