Achalasia is a rare condition that causes difficulty passing food and liquid from the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth and stomach, into the stomach.
This condition occurs when the nerves in the esophagus become damaged, resulting in paralysis and dilation of the esophagus over time. As a result, it loses its ability to squeeze food into the stomach, accumulating food in the esophagus. This can sometimes ferment and flow back into the mouth, giving a bitter taste. Some people may mistake this for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but the key difference is that the material in achalasia comes from the esophagus, not the stomach.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for achalasia, as the esophagus muscles cannot function again once they are paralysed. However, symptoms can be managed through endoscopy, minimally invasive therapy, or surgery.