Dysphagia (patient information)
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Dysphagia |
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Dysphagia On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Swallowing involves chewing food and moving it into the back of the mouth to transport it down the esophagus, the tube that moves food to the stomach.
Difficulty with swallowing is the feeling that food or liquid is stuck in the throat or at any point before the food enters the stomach. This problem is also called dysphagia.
What are the symptoms of Dysphagia ?
Chest pain, the feeling of food stuck in the throat, or heaviness or pressure in the neck or upper or lower chest may be present, as well as:
- Cough or wheezing that becomes worse
- Coughing up food that has not been digested
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Sour taste in the mouth
You may have problems swallowing with any eating or drinking, or only with certain types of foods or liquids. Difficulty eating very hot or cold foods, dry crackers or bread, meat, or chicken may be an early sign of swallowing problems.
What causes Dysphagia ?
Swallowing is a complex act. Many nerves work in a fine balance to control how the muscles of the mouth, throat, and esophagus work together. Much of swallowing occurs without you being aware of what you are doing.
A brain or nerve disorder can alter this fine balance in the muscles of the mouth and throat.
- Damage to the brain may be caused by multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or stroke
- Nerve damage may be due to spinal cord injuries, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), or myasthenia gravis
Stress or anxiety may cause some people to feel tightness in the throat, or feel as if something is stuck in the throat. This is called globus hystericus.
Problems that involve the esophagus often cause swallowing problems, including:
- An abnormal ring of tissue that forms where the esophagus and stomach meet (called Schatzki's ring)
- Abnormal spasms of the esophagus muscles
- Cancer of the esophagus
- Failure of the muscle ring at the bottom of the esophagus to relax (Achalasia)
- Scarring that narrows the esophagus. This may be due to radiation, chemicals, medicines, chronic swelling, ulcers, or infection.
- Something stuck in the esophagus, such as a piece of food.
- Scleroderma, a disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the esophagus
- Tumors in the chest that press on the esophagus