About Achalasia

Achalasia is a rare disease that makes it hard to swallow. It affects the esophagus, the tube that carries food and drinks to the stomach. In people with achalasia, the muscles in the esophagus do not work the right way, and the valve at the bottom does not open like it should. This can cause food and liquid to get stuck instead of moving into the stomach. 

For people living with achalasia, everyday things can become hard. Eating with family, going out with friends, sleeping through the night, and keeping a healthy weight may all become a struggle. Many people spend months or even years looking for answers before they get the right diagnosis. Even after treatment, symptoms may return, and fear of choking or pain can  remain.

• Achalasia is a rare disease. 
• About 1 to 2 people out of every 100,000 are diagnosed each year. 
• That means only a few thousand people in the United States may be diagnosed each year.
• An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 people in the United States are living with achalasia.
• There is no cure yet, but treatment can help manage symptoms.

Achalasia can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other stomach or swallowing problems. According to the National Institutes of Health, “physicians are inadequately familiar with the clinical features of achalasia”, and as a result, “achalasia is not diagnosed until an average of five years after initial complaints begin. 

Examples of tests Doctors often use more than once are:

• Esophageal manometry: the main test used to see how the muscles in the esophagus are working
• Barium swallow: an X-ray test that shows how food and liquid move through the esophagus 
• Upper endoscopy: a test that lets doctors look inside the esophagus and stomach
• FLIP: a newer test that may help confirm the diagnosis in some cases

There is no cure for achalasia yet. Today’s treatments aim to help food and drinks move more easily into the stomach and to reduce symptoms. The best option depends on the person’s health, symptoms, and type of achalasia.

• Balloon dilation: a doctor stretches the tight valve at the bottom of the esophagus
• Botox injection: helps relax the valve, often for short-term relief
• Medicines: may help some people, but often do not give long-term relief
• Heller Myotomy: surgery that cuts the tight muscle so food can pass more easily
• POEM: a less invasive procedure that cuts the tight muscle from inside the esophagus
• Esophagectomy: a major surgery used only in very severe cases

Achalasia changes lives in ways many people never see. It can affect health, nutrition, sleep, school, work, and peace of mind. Cure Achalasia Now is working to change that by raising awareness and funding research that can lead to better treatments and, one day, a cure.

Right now, there is no cure for achalasia. Current treatments can help, but they do not fix the disease, and some people need repeat procedures over time. More research can help doctors find better ways to diagnose achalasia sooner, improve treatment results, and work toward a true cure. Every donation helps move that work forward and brings hope to patients and families.