A 45-year-old male complains of heartburn after eating and difficulty swallowing. He probably has:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms of heartburn and difficulty swallowing are both associated with a hiatal hernia, which occurs when the upper part of the stomach bulges through the opening in the diaphragm that normally accommodates the esophagus. This can cause acid reflux and make it difficult for food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach. Pyloric stenosis is a narrowing of the opening between the stomach and small intestine, and it typically presents in infants. Gastric cancer is unlikely to be the cause of these symptoms unless the patient has a history of the disease or other risk factors. Achalasia is a rare disorder in which the muscles of the esophagus fail to relax properly, leading to difficulty swallowing and chest pain.

A 45-Year-Old Male Complains of Heartburn After Eating and Difficulty