Title: Esophageal Ulcers (Esophagus Sores) and Strictures (Narrowing) | Healthhype.com
Headings: Esophageal Ulcers (Esophagus Sores) and Strictures (Narrowing)
Esophageal Ulcers (Esophagus Sores) and Strictures (Narrowing)
What is an esophageal ulcer?
What is an esophageal stricture?
Reasons for esophageal ulcers
Causes of esophageal ulcers
Reflux
Infection
Medication
Chemicals
Cancer and other diseases
Signs and Symptoms
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Treatment of esophageal ulcers

Content: An esophageal stricture is an abnormal narrowing at some point in the esophagus. It can be due to inflammation or a growth in the esophageal wall protruding into the lumen (intrinsic), compression on the esophagus from a neighboring structure (extrinsic) or dysfunction of the esophageal wall muscle tone or activity (motor). Narrowing of the esophagus may result in one of more of the following symptoms : Difficulty swallowing – dysphagia
Painful swallowing – odynophagia
Regurgitation of food
Coughing during or after eating , at night
Unintentional weight loss
Reasons for esophageal ulcers
Normally the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) prevents backward flow of stomach contents into the esophagus. However, under certain circumstances stomach acid may enter into the lower part of the esophagus. Fortunately the esophagus has several mechanisms to withstand this acid for a short period of time. Thick mucosa lining the inside of the esophagus is able to withstand the acid for about 1 to 2 hours. Large amounts of alkaline saliva is released from the salivary glands and pass down into the esophagus to neutralize the acid. Rapid and forceful muscle contractions (peristaltic waves) pushes down any acidic stomach contents back towards the esophagus. Stomach acid is not the only factor that can irritate the esophageal mucosa.