Esophageal Spasm (Including Achalasia And Jackhammer Esophagus) Quiz
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Have chest pain
Have nausea
Swallowing difficulties
Tight feeling in the chest
Heartburn
Nauseous
Tightness in the chest
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What is Esophageal Spasm (Including Achalasia And Jackhammer Esophagus)?
Esophageal spasms are painful contractions within the muscular tube connecting your mouth and stomach. This tube is called the esophagus.
Typical Symptoms of Esophageal Spasm (Including Achalasia And Jackhammer Esophagus)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest pain when swallowing
- Chest pain
- Sensation of pressure in the chest
- Nausea or vomiting
- Heartburn
- Chest tightness
- Heartburn with discomfort in the upper stomach area
Diagnostic Questions for Esophageal Spasm (Including Achalasia And Jackhammer Esophagus)
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have difficulty swallowing?
- Do you experience chest pain when swallowing?
- Are you experiencing chest pain?
- Do you feel pressure over your chest?
- Have you been experiencing nausea or vomiting?
Treatment of Esophageal Spasm (Including Achalasia And Jackhammer Esophagus)
Your provider might recommend a proton pump inhibitor to treat GERD as this condition can be associated with esophageal spasms. Medications to relax the esophagus muscles can help reduce the sensation of pain. Some patients may require surgery or an endoscopic procedure if medications don't work.
Reviewed By:
Samantha Nazareth, MD (Gastroenterology)
Board-certified gastroenterologist. Experience managing gastrointestinal conditions (GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, celiac disease, NASH) within healthcare organizations (three ambulatory surgical centers, single-specialty practice, multi-specialty practice and solo practice).
Rohini R, MD (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Esophageal Spasm (Including Achalasia And Jackhammer Esophagus)?
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See full list
Symptoms Related to Esophageal Spasm (Including Achalasia And Jackhammer Esophagus)
Diseases Related to Esophageal Spasm (Including Achalasia And Jackhammer Esophagus)
FAQs
Q.
Achalasia? Why Your Esophagus Is Failing & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Achalasia is a serious but treatable disorder where the esophagus loses its normal squeezing and the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax, leading to trouble swallowing solids and liquids, regurgitation, chest discomfort, weight loss, and risks like aspiration and a small long term cancer risk. Medically approved next steps include confirming the diagnosis with esophageal manometry plus a barium swallow and endoscopy, then choosing treatment such as pneumatic dilation, Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication, or POEM, with Botox or medications for select patients. There are several factors to consider, so see below for red flags that require urgent care, how subtype, age, and reflux risk shape the best option, and what long term follow up and diet changes involve.
References:
* Gyawali CP. Achalasia: diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment options. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2022 Jul 29;15:17562848221115858. doi: 10.1177/17562848221115858. PMID: 36034179; PMCID: PMC9339328.
* Vaezi MF, Pandolfino JE, Vela MF, Gonsalves N, Kahrilas PJ. Achalasia: current concepts and future directions. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2023 Oct;58(7):657-674. doi: 10.1111/apt.17646. Epub 2023 Aug 26. PMID: 37632617; PMCID: PMC10609363.
* Vaezi MF, Pandolfino JE, Vela MF, Gonsalves N, Kahrilas PJ; American Gastroenterological Association. AGA Clinical Practice Guideline on the Medical Management of Achalasia. Gastroenterology. 2020 Dec;159(6):2204-2227. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.07.031. Epub 2020 Aug 22. PMID: 32828771; PMCID: PMC8677490.
* Richter JE. Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Achalasia: A Review. JAMA. 2017 Aug 22;318(8):736-746. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.10061. PMID: 28847029.
* Inoue H, Ueno A, Shimamura Y, Fukami N, Onimaru M, Fujiyoshi Y, Sato Y, Ikeda H, Kudo SE. Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Sep 1;6:54. doi: 10.21037/tgh-21-22. PMID: 34646908; PMCID: PMC8492061.
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Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Khan MA, Kumbhari V, Ngamruengphong S, Ismail A, Chen YI, Chavez YH, Bukhari M, Nollan R, Ismail MK, Onimaru M, Balassone V, Sharata A, Swanstrom L, Inoue H, Repici A, Khashab MA (2016). Is POEM the Answer for Management of Spastic Esophageal Disorders? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Digestive diseases and sciences.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27858325/Kim JY, Min YW (2020). Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Esophageal Motility Disorders. Clinical endoscopy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33212547/Zerbib F, Roman S (2015). Current Therapeutic Options for Esophageal Motor Disorders as Defined by the Chicago Classification. Journal of clinical gastroenterology.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25844840/