Question by No R: What is the difference between having Achalasia and GERD?
Since they seem so much alike!

Best answer:

Answer by Mads
Achalasia, also known as esophageal achalasia, is an esophageal motility disorder involving the smooth muscle layer of the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter.
Achalasia is characterized by difficulty swallowing, regurgitation, and sometimes chest pain.
The most common form is primary achalasia, which has no known underlying cause. It is due to the failure of distal esophageal inhibitory neurons. However, a small proportion occurs secondary to other conditions, such as esophageal cancer or Chagas disease.

GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease), is defined as chronic symptoms or mucosal damage produced by the abnormal reflux of stomach acid to the esophagus. A typical symptom is heartburn.
This is commonly due to transient or permanent changes in the barrier between the esophagus and the stomach. This can be due to incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter, transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the esophagus, or a hiatal hernia

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