Esophageal achalasia
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- help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
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What is esophageal achalasia?
Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder of unknown cause. It is characterized by absence of muscular contraction in the esophagus and insufficient relaxation in the lower esophageal in response to the action of swallowing.
Common symptoms reported by people with esophageal achalasia
Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
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Treatments taken by people with esophageal achalasia
Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)
Heller myotomy
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
3
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(3)
Treatment name(s)
Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM)
Type
Procedures
How many have tried
2
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(2)
Treatment name(s)
Pneumatic balloon dilatation
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
2
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(2)
Treatment name(s)
Cardiomyotomy
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
1
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(1)
Treatment name(s)
Chemotherapy
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
1
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(1)
Treatment name(s)
Esophagectomy
Type
Surgery
How many have tried
1
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(1)
Data from patients with esophageal achalasia, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
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Compare treatments taken by people with esophageal achalasia
Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)
Heller myotomy
Perceived effectiveness
for esophageal achalasia (1 evaluation)
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(3)
Treatment name(s)
Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM)
Perceived effectiveness
for esophageal achalasia (2 evaluations)
Side effects
acid reflux
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(2)
Treatment name(s)
Pneumatic balloon dilatation
Perceived effectiveness
for esophageal achalasia (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(2)
Perceived effectiveness
for fatigue (3 evaluations)
Side effects
hyperactivity
Total evaluations
4
Tried for
fatigue
(1)
Treatment name(s)
Cardiomyotomy
Perceived effectiveness
for esophageal achalasia (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(1)
Treatment name(s)
Chemotherapy
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(1)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
depressed mood
(1)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
depressed mood
(1)
Treatment name(s)
Esophagectomy
Perceived effectiveness
for esophageal achalasia (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Hospitalization
swallowing difficulty (dysphagia)
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(1)
Perceived effectiveness
for esophageal achalasia (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
esophageal achalasia
(1)
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
- Severe
- Moderate
- Mild
- None
Data from patients with esophageal achalasia, who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
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Who has esophageal achalasia on PatientsLikeMe?
- 149 patients have this condition
- 3 new patients joined this month
- 77 say esophageal achalasia is their primary condition
| Age | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| <20 | 0 | |
| 20s | 10 | |
| 30s | 21 | |
| 40s | 26 | |
| 50s | 38 | |
| 60s | 32 | |
| 70+ | 14 |
| Age at first symptom | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| 0-19 years | 9 | |
| 20-29 years | 10 | |
| 30-39 years | 14 | |
| 40-49 years | 15 | |
| 50-59 years | 5 | |
| 60-69 years | 5 | |
| 70+ years | 0 |
Distribution of sex
| Sex | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 50 | |
| Female | 93 |
| Diagnosis status | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosed | 73 | |
| Not Diagnosed | 4 |
These charts show data from esophageal achalasia patients who have completed their condition history
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