Your esophagus is a tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth down into your stomach. In normal swallowing, muscles must properly squeeze, or contract, in order to push food or liquids towards your stomach. There are valves (sphincters) inside your esophagus that are very important. They must open correctly to allow food and liquids to pass through to the stomach. They must also close correctly so food and stomach acid will not move backwards.
Esophageal manometry is a test that evaluates whether your esophageal muscles are working properly. This test may be ordered for different reasons, primarily if you have problems swallowing or suffer from persistent heartburn.
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Diagnosing and Treating Esophageal Disorders
Affecting more than 15 million adults in the U.S., esophageal disorders can severely affect quality of life. They can cause symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and regurgitation of undigested food. Let's discuss the different types of esophageal disorders, how each is diagnosed, and what your doctor can do to help you treat a...