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  Natural Biblical Health

esophagus

The Esophagus
By WebMD.com
The esophagus is the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. When you eat or drink, food and liquids travel from your mouth through the throat and esophagus into your stomach.
The esophagus is a muscular tube connecting the throat (pharynx) with the stomach. The esophagus is about 8 inches long, and is lined by moist pink tissue called mucosa. The esophagus runs behind the windpipe (trachea) and heart, and in front of the spine. Just before entering the stomach, the esophagus passes through the diaphragm.

The upper esophageal sphincter (UES) is a bundle of muscles at the top of the esophagus. The muscles of the UES are under conscious control, used when breathing, eating, belching, and vomiting. They keep food and secretions from going down the windpipe.

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a bundle of muscles at the low end of the esophagus, where it meets the stomach. When the LES is closed, it prevents acid and stomach contents from traveling backwards from the stomach. The LES muscles are not under voluntary control.

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Esophagus Medical Conditions
  • Heartburn: An incompletely closed LES allows acidic stomach contents to back up (reflux) into the esophagus. Reflux can cause heartburn, cough or hoarseness, or no symptoms at all.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): When reflux occurs frequently or is bothersome, it's called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  • Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus. Esophagitis can be due to irritation (as from reflux or radiation treatment) or infection.
  • Barrett's esophagus: Regular reflux of stomach acid irritates the esophagus, which may cause the lower part to change its structure. Very infrequently, Barrett's esophagus progresses to esophageal cancer.
  • Esophageal ulcer: An erosion in an area of the lining of the esophagus. This is often caused by chronic reflux.
  • Esophageal stricture: A narrowing of the esophagus. Chronic irritation from reflux is the usual cause of esophageal strictures.
Picture
  • Achalasia: A rare disease in which the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax properly. Difficulty swallowing and regurgitation of food are symptoms.
  • Esophageal cancer: Although serious, cancer of the esophagus is uncommon. Risk factors for esophageal cancer include smoking, heavy drinking, and chronic reflux.
  • Mallory-Weiss tear: Vomiting or retching creates a tear in the lining of the esophagus. The esophagus bleeds into the stomach, often followed by vomiting blood.
  • Esophageal varices: In people with cirrhosis, veins in the esophagus may become engorged and bulge. Called varices, these veins are vulnerable to life-threatening bleeding.
  • Esophageal ring (Schatzki's ring): A common, benign accumulation of tissue in a ring around the low end of the esophagus. Schatzki's rings usually cause no symptoms, but may cause difficulty swallowing.
    • Esophageal web: An accumulation of tissue (similar to an esophageal ring) that usually occurs in the upper esophagus. Like rings, esophageal webs usually cause no symptoms.
  • Plummer-Vinson syndrome: A condition including chronic iron-deficient anemia, esophageal webs, and difficulty swallowing. Iron replacement and dilation of esophageal webs are treatments.
  • Esophageal stricture: A narrowing of the esophagus, from a variety of causes, which, if narrow enough, may lead to difficult swallowing.
Esophagus Medical Tests
  • Upper endoscopy, EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy): A flexible tube with a camera on its end (endoscope) is inserted through the mouth. The endoscope allows examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (small intestine).
  • Esophageal pH monitoring: A probe that monitors acidity (pH) is introduced into the esophagus. Monitoring pH can help identify GERD and follow the response to treatment.
  • Barium swallow: A person swallows a barium solution, then X-ray films are taken of the esophagus and stomach. Most often, a barium swallow is used to seek the cause of difficulty swallowing.
Picture
Esophagus Medical Treatments
  • H2 blockers: Histamine stimulates acid release in the stomach. Certain antihistamines called H2 blockers can reduce acid, improving GERD and esophagitis.
  • Proton pump inhibitors: These medicines turn off many of the acid-producing pumps in the stomach wall. Reduced stomach acid can reduce GERD symptoms, and help ulcers or esophagitis to heal.
  • Esophagectomy: Surgical removal of the esophagus, usually for esophageal cancer.
  • Esophageal dilation: A balloon is passed down the esophagus and inflated to dilate a stricture, web, or ring that interferes with swallowing.
  • Esophageal variceal banding: During endoscopy, rubber band-like devices can be wrapped around esophageal varices. Banding causes varices to clot, reducing their chance of bleeding.
  • Biopsy: Often done through an endoscope, a small piece of the esophagus is taken to be evaluated under a microscope.
  • Confocal laser endomicroscopy: A new procedure that takes the microscope inside a patient, which may replace the need for many biopsies.
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Disclaimer: I, (Teresa Biggins) am not a Medical Doctor, and cannot prescribe, cure or diagnose. 
     Many of these articles have not been written by me. They have been copied , usually word for word from Web sites, periodicals, books and fliers. Not all agree with my position concerning  some issues, but they are all excellently written with wonderful information in them. It is only by studying many positions that we can make OUR OWN informed decisions. The articles are gathered and presented  this way in order to help you achieve that end easier. Full credit and the source is always given, and I encourage you to look the sources up, as most may have additional information.
      ALL information on any page is here for furthering your educational needs for the purpose of equipping you with information only, and not intended for prescribing, diagnosing, or curing  any ailment you may have. These articles may not be misconstrued as medical advise or  instruction. No action should be made  based solely on these contents; instead readers should contact the appropriate health practitioner on any matter relating to their health, or well being. Readers who fail to consult with with appropriate health professionals assume the risk of any injury. 
     Your body is your own to care for. No claims can be legally made about the information supplied on these pages. These instructional documents have been prepared as a narration or copy of what has been reported in the most effective way to use the product or gain knowledge about specific subjects or products. These are not endorsed by the AMA or the FDA. All are intended to be an honest report of what is known about these subjects for those who are interested.

Teresa Biggins ND  847-736-3030  naturalbiblicalhealth@gmail.com
  • Home
    • Introduction
    • About us Menu
    • Contact Us
    • Gallery of Travels menu
  • Healthy Living
    • Eating Healthy
    • Drinking Healthy
    • Exercise Healthy
    • Laughter the Best Medicine
    • Survival in Times of Disaster
    • How to Live Longer Guaranteed
    • *pH Balancing
  • Pet Health
    • Animal Nutrition
    • Pet Arthritis
  • Why We Feel Sick
    • First, How to Feel Well
    • Why We Get Sick
    • What We Eat Makes Us Sick
    • Vaccines
    • Prescription Drugs
    • Am I Toxic?
    • Heavy Metals
    • Using Plastics
    • Compare Causes of Death
  • Sub Health Conditions
    • 1 Cardiovascular System >
      • Cholesterol
      • Heart Disease
      • Hypertension High Blood Pressure
      • Low Blood Pressure
      • Stroke
  • Medical Conditions
  • Alternative Modalities
  • New Page