How Do You Spell ACHALASIA?

Pronunciation: [ɐt͡ʃɐlˈe͡ɪzi͡ə] (IPA)

The word "achalasia" is a medical term that refers to a disorder affecting the muscles of the esophagus. It is pronounced /ˌeɪ.kəˈleɪ.zi.ə/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable, "a", is pronounced as the vowel sound in "pay", while the second syllable, "cha", is pronounced with a "k" sound followed by the sound of the "a" in "car". The final syllable, "lasia", is pronounced with the sound of the "a" in "cat" followed by a "z" sound and the short "i" sound.

ACHALASIA Meaning and Definition

1. Achalasia is a medical condition characterized by the inability of the muscles in the esophagus (the tube connecting the throat and the stomach) to properly relax and allow the passage of food and liquids into the stomach. This condition is believed to be caused by damage or degeneration of the nerves in the esophagus, which disrupts the normal coordinated muscle movements required for swallowing.

   Symptoms of achalasia typically include difficulty swallowing, regurgitation of undigested food or liquids, chest pain or discomfort, and weight loss. Individuals with this condition may also experience heartburn, frequent coughing, and a sensation of fullness or bloating after eating.

   The diagnosis of achalasia is typically made through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and various tests such as esophageal manometry, barium swallow, and endoscopy. Treatment options for achalasia include lifestyle changes, medications to relax the esophageal muscles, and minimally invasive procedures such as balloon dilation or botulinum toxin injections to help improve esophageal muscle function.

   If left untreated, achalasia can lead to complications such as pneumonia, esophageal dilation or widening, and weight loss from inadequate food intake. Though achalasia cannot be cured, treatment options can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life for affected individuals. Regular follow-up with a healthcare professional is necessary to monitor the condition and adjust treatment as needed.

2. Failure to relax, referring especially to visceral openings, such as the pylorus, or to sphincter muscles.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for ACHALASIA

• zchalasia
• schalasia
• wchalasia
• qchalasia
• axhalasia
• avhalasia
• afhalasia
• adhalasia
• acgalasia
• acbalasia
• acnalasia
• acjalasia
• acualasia
• acyalasia
• achzlasia
• achslasia
• achwlasia
• achqlasia
• achakasia
• achapasia

Etymology of ACHALASIA

The word "achalasia" is derived from two Greek terms: "a-" meaning "without" or "not", and "chalasis" meaning "relaxation". The term was coined by the German physician Otto Baron and it refers to a medical condition characterized by the failure of smooth muscle fibers to relax, particularly in the esophagus.

Plural form of ACHALASIA is ACHALASIAS