What Is Achalasia?
2. Causes
It is not at all well understood why achalasia happens, although research has shown that the condition is connected to the degeneration of the nerve cells in the esophagus. This itself might be down to autoimmune conditions, which means that the bodies own immune system is attacking the esophagus rather than protecting it.
Another possible cause is viral or bacterial infections that cause damage to the nerve cells in the esophagus. More research is being done into learning what causes the condition. Achalasia is very rare, however, so research into it is not likely to be high on the list of priorities.
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