The esophagus is a
tube that connects
the throat and the
stomach.
If the mouth is
the gateway to
the body, then the
esophagus is a
highway for food
and drink to travel
along to make it
to the stomach.
This body part
has a very simple
function, but can
have many
disorders.
The esophagus is a tube that connects the
throat (pharynx) and the stomach. It is about
8 inches (20 centimeters) long. The
esophagus isn’t just a hollow tube that food
slips down like a water slide, though. The
esophagus is made of muscles that contract
to move food to the stomach. This process is
called peristalsis, according to the Cleveland
Clinic.
At the top of the esophagus is a band of
muscle called the upper esophageal
sphincter. Another band of muscle, the lower
esophageal sphincter is at the bottom of the
tube, slightly above the stomach. When a
person swallows, these sphincters relax so
food can pass into the stomach. When not in
use, they contract so food and stomach acid
do not flow back up the esophagus.
Conditions and diseases
As a person ages, the sphincters weaken,
making some people more prone to backflow
of acid from the stomach, a condition called
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD can cause severe damage to the
esophagus, according to the National Library
of Medicine .
“GERD is due to the reflux of acid contents of
the stomach that get refluxed up into the
esophagus," Dr. Lisa Ganjhu, a clinical
assistant professor of medicine and
gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Medical
Center, told Live Science. "Acid is not meant
to be in the esophagus so the symptoms of
that may be a burning sensation in the chest,
the pain can be so intense that it feels like a
heart attack. It is always best to seek
medical attention if you are having those
symptoms.”
Some people are sensitive to certain foods
that lower the pressure of the lower
esophageal sphincter and this allows the acid
to wash up into the esophagus. Anxiety also
increases the sensitivity of the esophagus so
the sensation is more severe.
GERD can also cause esophagus ulcers. An
ulcer is an open sore that, in this case, is
located in the esophagus. Some symptoms
are pain, nausea, heartburn and chest pain,
according to the University of Minnesota
Medical Center .
Barrett’s esophagus is a condition that may
occur when the lining of the esophagus
changes to be more like the lining of the
intestine, according to The National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases . This condition can turn into a rare
cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma.
There is no known cause of this disorder, but
doctors have found that those with GERD are
more likely to get Barrett’s.
According to the American Cancer Society ,
esophageal cancer typically has no
symptoms until it is advanced. Symptoms
include difficulty swallowing (also called
dysphagia), chest pain and weight loss.
Esophagus spasms, also called "nutcracker
esophagus," are unexplained muscle
contractions of the esophagus that can be
quite painful, according to the Mayo Clinic .
One of the symptoms is severe, sudden chest
pain and, if the spasms are frequent, they can
prevent swallowing.
Another disorder that can prevent swallowing
is motor neuron disease. Motor neuron
diseases (MND) affecting millions of
Americans, with over 100,000 diagnosed
annually. Between 80 to 95 percent of people
living with MND experience some loss of
speech and swallowing before they die,
according to a press release by Johns
Hopkins. “The disease really is characterized
by, and for the most part, normal mental
function, normal sensation," said Dr. Nicholas
Maragakis, co-medical director of The Johns
Hopkins ALS Clinic. "Patients gradually get
weaker, over time. Unlike stroke, it’s not a
disease that happens overnight.”
Promoting good esophagus health
Ganjhu gave these tips for the best way to
prevent reflux of food and acid into the
esophagus and ways to help treat GERD:
Eat small meals so that the food
does not sit in the stomach and instead
moves on to the small bowel to be
further digested.
Try acid-blocking medications.
Avoid or reduce consumption of foods
and beverages that contain caffeine,
chocolate, peppermint, spearmint and
alcohol.
Avoid all carbonated drinks.
Cut down on fatty foods.
Eat a diet rich in fruits and
vegetables, although it may best to avoid
acidic vegetables and fruits (such as
oranges, lemons, grapefruit, pineapple
and tomatoes) if they bother you.
Quit smoking.
Overweight people should try to diet
and exercise to lose weight. A starting
goal is to lose 5 to 10 percent of your
present weight.
People with GERD should avoid
wearing tight clothing, particularly
around the abdomen.
If possible, GERD patients should
avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin,
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen
(Aleve).
After meals, take a walk or stay
upright.
Avoid bedtime snacks. In general, do
not eat for at least two hours before
bedtime.
When going to bed, try lying on the
left side rather than the right side. The
stomach is located higher than the
esophagus while sleeping on the right
side, which can put pressure on the
lower esophageal sphincter (LES),
increasing the risk for fluid backup.
Sleep in a tilted position to help keep
acid in the stomach at night. To do this,
raise the bed at an angle using 4- to 6-
inch (10 to 15 centimeters) blocks under
the head of the bed. Use a wedge
support to elevate the top half of your
body. Extra pillows that only raise the
head actually increase the risk for reflux.
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