Achalasia Causes & Risks

Causes

There is a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) where the esophagus meets the stomach. When not swallowing, the LES remains closed to keep food, liquid, and stomach acid from moving back into the esophageal tube. When swallowing, nerve signals tell muscles to contract to push food down the esophagus (an action called peristalsis) and allow the LES to open.

In people with achalasia, the nerve cells in the lower esophageal tube and the LES do not work correctly. This results in:

Absent peristaltic (muscular) activity
Failure of the LES to open completely

While achalasia is associated with the loss of nerve cells in the esophagus, the cause of this process is unknown.

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Because the exact cause of achalasia is unknown, risk factors are unknown.

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