The esophagus is the tube that carries food, liquids and saliva from your mouth to the stomach. You may not be aware of your esophagus until you swallow something too large, too hot or too cold. You may also become aware of it when something is wrong.
The most common problem with the esophagus is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It happens when a band of muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux into, into the esophagus and irritate it. Over time, GERD can cause damage to the esophagus. Other problems include heartburn and cancer.
Treatment depends on the problem. Some get better with over-the-counter medicines or changes in diet. Others may need prescription medicines or surgery.
- Esophageal Disorders(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch120/ch120a.html
- Esophageal Manometry Test(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/esophageal_manometry_test/hic_esophageal_manometry_test.aspx
- Understanding Esophageal Dilation(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) - http://www.asge.org/PatientInfoIndex.aspx?id=392
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Upper Endoscopy
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy/
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Upper GI Endoscopy
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/uppergiendoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/uppergiendoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm -
Upper GI Series(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/uppergi/
- Achalasia(UpToDate) - http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=digestiv/4384
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Barrett's Esophagus(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/barretts/
- Bile Reflux(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bile-reflux/DS00651/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Esophageal Rings and Webs(InteliHealth) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/9917.html
- Esophageal Spasms(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/esophageal-spasms/DS00763/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Esophageal Varices(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/esophageal-varices/DS00820/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Esophagitis(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/25873.html
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Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerd/
- Peptic Ulcer(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/peptic-ulcer/DS00242/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Upper GI Endoscopy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/uppergiendoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/uppergiendoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm
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Your Digestive System and How It Works(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/yrdd/
Also available in Spanish http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/yrdd/index.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Barrett Esophagus(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Barrett+Esophagus%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Achalasia(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Esophageal+Achalasia%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Esophageal+Diseases%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Lymphocytic esophagitis: a chronic or recurring pattern of esophagitis resembling... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18794041&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis: overview, current limitations, and future direction. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18721234&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Crohn disease of the esophagus: a review of the literature. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18708983&tool=MedlinePlus
- Esophagus Disorders -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=esophageal+diseases[majr]+NOT+(esophageal+neoplasms[mh]+OR+hernia,+diaphragmatic[majr]+OR+gastroesophageal+reflux[majr]+OR+heartburn[majr]+OR+hiatal+hernia[majr]+OR+deglutition+disorders[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+systematic[sb]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- esophageal spasm - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=esophageal+spasm
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Find a Doctor(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) - http://www.asge.org/Apps/FindADoctor/search.aspx
- Find an Otolaryngologist (ENT)(American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery) - http://www.entnet.org//findanentmore.cfm
- GI Physician Locator(American College of Gastroenterology) - http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/phylocator.asp
- American College of Gastroenterology - http://www.acg.gi.org/
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National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
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Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/special/birth/345.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/special/birth/345.printerview.html
- Esophageal Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/esophagealcancer.html
- GERD - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gerd.html
- Swallowing Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/swallowingdisorders.html
- Digestive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/digestivesystem.html
- Ear, Nose and Throat - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/earnoseandthroat.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Esophagus Disorders is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
Esophagus Disorders - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/esophagusdisorders.html