What Is Achalasia?
9. Treatment
There is no cure for achalasia, and the patient will have the condition for the remainder of their lives. It can be treated, however, and treatment for the condition will often involve pneumatic dilation. This involves inserting a balloon into the esophageal sphincter, which is then inflated to make the sphincter larger enough for food to pass through.
If this method is not effective then Botox, which is a muscle relaxant, may be used. The Botox is often injected directly into the esophageal sphincter to help open it up. In other cases, some muscle relaxing medications can be used, but their side effects mean they are avoided where possible.
Advertisement