Achalasia Cardia
- Overview
- Introduction
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Complications
- Homoeopathic Treatment
- Do's and Don'ts
- Diet and Nutrition
What is Achalasia Cardia?
Achalasia cardia is a motility disorder of the esophagus causing incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter with increase in tone and absence of esophageal peristalsis.
It is also termed as esophageal achalasia, cardio spasm, and esophageal aperistalsis.
Click to read about causes of Achalasia Cardia.
The common presentation of achalasia cardia is difficulty in swallowing.
Cases although are mild and rarely fatal; can lead to complications if left untreated.
What happens in Achalasia Cardia?
QUICK LOOK:
- More common in adults than children.
- Most common between 25 - 60 years of age.
- Dysphagia- difficulty in swallowing
- Inability to swallow solids and liquids
- Odynophagia- Pain while swallowing
- Sensation of choking or something stuck in throat while eating
- Heart burn with heaviness in chest
- Hiccups and occasional burping
- Weight Loss
- Sudden difficulty in breathing, choking due to aspiration.
What can Achalasia Cardia lead to?
Achalasia cardia can present in a mild manner and is rarely life threatening. However if left untreated, can have following complications:
- Aspiration Pneumonia - This is a sudden complication arising due to aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs causing breathing difficulties due to bronchopneumonia.
- Esophagitis - Recurrent collection of food contents can lead to irritation of lining causing inflammation of esophagus.
- GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) - Regurgitation of gastric contents into the oral cavity due to Lower Esophageal Sphincter abnormality can cause GERD.
- Esophageal Perforation - Chronic inflammation and irritation can lead to ulceration and cause perforation of esophagus which is a medical emergency.
- Cancer of Esophagus - Adenocarcinoma of esophagus has been noted in patients treated for achalasia cardia in past.
- Malnutrition - Long term dysphagia can lead to weight loss affecting the nutritional status.
HOW CAN HOMOEOPATHY HELP N ACHALASIA CARDIA?
- Homoeopathy is a holistic system of alternative medicine which works at all levels of mind and body.
- Achalasia cardia is primarily a motility disorder of esophagus due to failure of relaxation of muscles and poor muscle tone.
- Homoeopathic medicines act on the smooth muscles of the esophagus and help in strengthening and improving the overall tone of the esophageal sphincter intreatment for Achalasia Cardia.
- Complaints of swallowing difficulties, vomiting and heart burn with esophageal spasms are excellently handled with homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia.
- Medicines in homoeopathy work at a much deeper level and improve the overall health of the patient and prevent unnecessary complications and relapses.
Few of our amazing homoeopathic remedies include:
Arsenic Album: It is an excellent remedy in homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia with symptoms like dyspepsia, heartburn, and dysphagia. Everything patient swallows seems to have lodged in the esophagus.
Baptisia: This is a wonderful remedy in homeopathic treatment of Achalasia Cardia with dyspepsia and dysphagia accompanied muscular soreness. Patient can only swallow liquids and often vomits due to spasm of esophagus.
Ignatia: Patient feels a lump like sensation in the throat that cannot be swallowed. Difficulty in swallowing with tendency to choke. Patient feels better when swallowing solids and finds liquids harder to swallow. It is a leading remedy in homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia.
Asafoetida: Indicated remedy for spasmodic contraction of esophagus and stomach with reversed peristalsis in homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia. Globus hystericus - sensation of a ball rising in throat with a feeling as if esophagus were driven from stomach to throat.
Achalasia cardia is a rare motility disorder of the esophagus involving smooth muscles and lower esophageal sphincter. It is also termed as esophageal aperistalsis, cardiospasm, and esophageal achalasia.
Failure of relaxation of smooth muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter due to defect either in nerves or the musculature leads to incomplete relaxation of the sphincter and no peristalsis.
Achalasia cardia usually presents in adulthood and is very rare among children. Most of the cases are idiopathic and have no underlying cause associated.
Dysphagia- This is the most common and early presentation of achalasia cardia. Patient often complains of having difficulty in swallowing, sensation of something stuck in throat immediately after eating.
Dysphagia can progress from inability to swallow solids as well as liquids in later stages.
Odynophagia- Patient experiences pain as well as difficulty while swallowing. This is striking feature along with Dysphagia in symptoms of Achalasia Cardia.
Chest pain and heart burn- is possible with heavy feeling in chest and discomfort after meals. This is known to mimic angina suggesting a heart ailment.
Acid Reflux- Some of the food is brought back to the mouth - (regurgitation) which causes bad taste in mouth especially at night. This is observed in 80 % of patients.
Weight loss and Malnutrition- is a prominent feature in symptoms of Achalasia Cardia observed in later stages of the disease mainly due to inability to eat.
Nocturnal cough and choking occasionally- may be noted in cases of regurgitated food at night. This is peculiar feature in symptoms of Achalasia Cardia.
Hiccups and Burping- is observed in about 10 % of cases.
Sudden breathlessness, choking- can occur in acute stages if food has aspirated into the lungs.
The exact causes of achalasia cardia are still unclear. Achalasia cardia in an individual mainly occurs due to abnormal function of the lower esophageal sphincter due to improper relaxation and high resting pressure of the LES. Achalasia cardia is known to affect both muscles and the nerves which weaken and degenerate as the disease progresses. Various theories have been postulated in order to correlate the pathophysiology of achalasia cardia with the etiology. Some of these include:
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Genetic: Achalasia cardia is known to run in families and have a genetic predisposition.
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Abnormal Immune system: Certain auto immune responses in our body are known to cause considerable damage to the esophagus thereby weakening the muscles of the sphincter. This theory is more evident as individuals with other auto immune disorders are more prone to be at risk of achalasia cardia. This is one of the major causes of Achlasia Cardia.
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Nerve disturbances: Degeneration of certain nerves like vagus nerve and Aurebach's myentric plexus can lead to dilatation of the lower esophageal sphincter causing achalasia cardia.
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Idiopathic: Most cases of achalasia cardia have no underlying cause of its own.
- Aspiration Pneumonia: This is the most serious complication of achalasia cardia but rare. In some cases due to sudden regurgitation process, gastric contents from the stomach enter in to the lungs leading to bronchopneumonia. Patient may present with sudden breathlessness, choking, vomiting episodes and respiratory distress.
- GERD- Long term immobility of the esophagus causing weakening of LES can lead to frequent regurgitation of the food contents to the mouth causing acid reflux disease. Patients normally present with epigastric pain, fullness after meals, water brash and indigestion.
- Esophagitis- Constant collection of food and gastric contents in the esophagus can irritate the mucosal lining causing inflammation of esophagus known as esophagitis.
- Perforation of esophagus- Chronic inflammation and irritation can also cause ulceration leading to formation of a hole in esophagus called esophageal perforation.
- Esophageal cancer: There is not much significant evidence medically about the correlation of esophageal cancer with achalasia cardia. However some patients who have been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of esophagus have undergone dilatation procedure for achalasia conditions.
- Malnutrition: Prolonged weight loss due to inability to swallow liquids and solids can lead to significant weight loss which can affect the nutritional status of the individual.
Achalasia cardia is a rare form of motility disorder seen in today's population but not very uncommon.
- Homeopathic system of medicine focuses on the internal derangement mechanisms which cause our body to break down and weaken, expressing itself outwardly in the form of symptoms in an individual.
- Homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia has a lot to offer in special cases of achalasia cardia where patient's condition and symptoms persists inspite of drug therapy or surgery.
- Certain patients have a tendency to poor muscle tone which makes them more susceptible to suffer from achalasia cardia. Homoeopathic medicines have excellent action on the muscles of the esophagus; they help in strengthening the muscles and improving the overall tone thereby correcting the underlying condition by homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia.
- Symptoms of acid reflux, heartburn with swallowing difficulties are amazingly managed with our wonderful remedies like Baptisia and Phosphorous in homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia.
Few of our amazing homoeopathic remedies include:
Arsenic Album: It is an excellent remedy in homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia with symptoms like dyspepsia, heartburn, and dysphagia. Everything patient swallows seems to have lodged in the esophagus.
Baptisia: This is a wonderful remedy in homeopathic treatment of Achalasia Cardia with dyspepsia and dysphagia accompanied muscular soreness. Patient can only swallow liquids and often vomits due to spasm of esophagus.
Ignatia: Patient feels a lump like sensation in the throat that cannot be swallowed. Difficulty in swallowing with tendency to choke. Patient feels better when swallowing solids and finds liquids harder to swallow. It is a leading remedy in homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia.
Asafoetida: Indicated remedy for spasmodic contraction of esophagus and stomach with reversed peristalsis in homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia. Globus hystericus - sensation of a ball rising in throat with a feeling as if esophagus were driven from stomach to throat.
There are more than 200 remedies in homeopathic treatment for Achalasia Cardia in both acute and chronic stages.
SWALLOWING: Difficult: liquids: More difficult than solids: 3Alumn, 3Bell, 3Both-l, 1Brom, 1Bry, 1Canth, 1Cocc, 1Gels, 1Hyos, 1Ign, 4LACH, 3Lyss, 3Merc-c, 1Sanic, 1Sil, 1Stram
SWALLOWING: Difficult: 1Acet-ac, 2Acon, 2Aesc, 1Aeth, 1Agar, 2Alum, 2Alumn, 3Am-c, 1Ambr, 1Ant-c, 1Ant-t, 2Bapt, 3Bar-c, 1Bar-m, 2Bell, 1Benz-ac, 1Bism, 2Brom, 1Bry, 1Bufo,2Cact, 2Calc, 1Calc-p, 1Cann-s, 2Canth, 2Caps, 2Carb-v, 1Card-m, 2Caust, 1Cedr, 1Cham,2Chel, 3Chin, 1Chin-ar, 1Croto-t, 2Cupr, 1Cur, 1Dig, 1Dios, 1Dros, 2Dulc, 2Elaps, 1Fago, 1Ferr, 1Ferr-ar, 1Fl-ac, 1Form, 2Gels, 1Graph, 1Grat, 2Hell, 2Hep, 3Hyos, 2Ign, 1Ind, 2Iod, 2Ip, 1Kali-bi, 3Kali-c, 1Kali-chl, 1Kali-ma, 2Kali-n, 1Kali-s, 2Kalm, 2Lac-ac, 3Lach, 1Lact, 2Lyc, 3Lyss, 2Merc, 1Mur-ac, 2Naja, 1Nat-c, 1Nat-m, 3Nit-ac, 1Nux-m, 3Nux-v, 2Op, 1Ox-ac, 1Paeon, 1Phos, 2Phyt, 1Pic-ac, 2Plb, 2Psor, 1Puls, 3Rhus-t, 1Rhus-v, 1Rumx, 2Sabad, 2Sep, 2Sil, 3Stram, 3Stry, 2Sul-ac, 1Sulph, 1Thuj, 1Ust, 1Vesp, 1Vip, 2Wye, 1Zinc
SWALLOWING: Liquids, aggravation from: Difficult: 3Bell, 3Canth, 3Chin-ar, 3Cupr, 3Ign, 3Iod, 3Lach, 3Merc, 1Nat-m, 1Phos, 1Sil
The remedy abbreviations with
- 4 marks- most effective,
- 3 marks- quite effective,
- 2 marks- less effective,
- 1 mark- least effective.
Do’s:
- Maintain a soft or liquid diet which will make it easier to swallow while eating.
- Always chew the food nicely while eating and avoid gulping down the food.
- Maintain at least 2 hours interval between every meal.
- Keep 4 to 5 frequent small meals instead of having a heavy lunch or dinner as this helps in better digestion.
- Increase the amount of water intake in your daily routine.
- Always have your food while sitting upright.
- Use a big pillow at an angle of 30 degrees while sleeping at night to prevent acid reflux.
Don’ts:
- Avoid meals immediately before bedtime. Keep at least two hour gap between dinner and sleep.
- Avoid lying down immediately after meals as this can cause acid reflux.
- Do not hurry while eating or drinking.
- Do not skip meals or keep long gap between two meals.
- Avoid eating too much fried or spicy foods.
- Avoid habits like smoking, drinking.
- Do not indulge in habit of self-medication and avoid over the counter medications.
Foods to include:
- Adopt for a softer and a pureed diet like soups, porridge, mashed vegetables as this will help in swallowing food better without any discomfort.
- Include foods rich in protein like chicken, fish, soya and eat more high fiber foods.
- Ginger plays an excellent role in helping digestion in our body and prevents heartburn.
- Dairy products like milk and yogurt work very well in easing symptoms of digestive discomfort.
- Pepper mint as an ingredient in teas and yogurt dips are known to help reduce gastric acid secretion and soothe the body.
- Thickened fluids like broth, stew, vegetables blended well or juices can be consumed.
- Drink at least 10 glasses of water daily to stay hydrated.
Foods to avoid:
- Avoid fried and spicy foods as they act as irritants and worsen the symptoms.
- Avoid high carbohydrate foods like potatoes, cauliflower, wheat, rice as they are known to slow down the digestive process.
- Consume citrus fruits like lemon, oranges etc. in moderation as they are known to increase acid reflux.
- Reduce consumption of caffeine in your daily routine. Stick to 2 cups of tea or coffee daily.
- Avoid too much beverages and aerated drinks.