What is Esophageal Dysfunction?

Esophageal or (in Australia Oesophageal Dysfunction) is a medical disorder causing a decrease in a person’s ability to swallow or regurgitate food often associated with painful spasm like symptoms of the oesophagus.

Esophageal Dysfunction is commonly associated with Scleroderma Disease, in which the smooth muscles atrophy and fibrosis occurs. This leads to a weakening of the oesophagus and decreased ability to produce oesophageal paristalsis. The motility of the oeophagus is generally only preserved by the proximal end of the oesophagus, which is primarily made up of striated muscles (left unaffected by the Scleroderma Disease).