Does every bite make you stop and think before you swallow? Maybe food feels like it gets stuck, swallowing hurts, or you have to work harder just to finish a meal. Trouble swallowing can make eating stressful and keep you from enjoying your favorite foods.
While trouble swallowing can happen with a sore throat, ongoing swallowing problems shouldn’t be ignored. They may be a sign of acid reflux, a narrowing of the esophagus, or another digestive condition that needs treatment.
Doctors call trouble swallowing dysphagia. The good news is that many causes of dysphagia can be treated. If swallowing has become difficult or painful, it’s time to find out why.
Trouble swallowing doesn’t always feel the same. Some people have pain when they swallow, while others feel like food gets stuck on the way down. You may also notice:
If trouble swallowing lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back, or happens along with these symptoms, you should see a doctor.
Many conditions can make swallowing difficult. Some are mild, while others need medical treatment.
Frequent acid reflux (known as GERD) can damage the lining of the esophagus over time. As the esophagus heals, scar tissue can form and make it narrower. This narrowing, called an esophageal stricture, can make it harder for food to pass.
A narrowed esophagus, growths, or other blockages can make food feel like it’s getting stuck. Inflammation can also make the esophagus swell.
The muscles that help you swallow can become weak or stop working correctly. Conditions such as achalasia, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and ALS can all affect swallowing.
A severe sore throat, strep throat, or inflammation of the esophagus can make swallowing painful until the condition improves.
Sometimes trouble swallowing needs immediate medical care.
Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 if you:
Don’t wait to get medical help if you have these symptoms.
Your doctor will recommend the tests that best fit your symptoms. Not everyone needs every test.
During an upper endoscopy, your gastroenterologist uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to examine your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. It can help find inflammation, narrowing, ulcers, and other problems.
During this imaging test, you’ll swallow a liquid that shows up on X-rays. The images help your doctor see how food and liquid move through your esophagus.
This test measures how well the muscles in your esophagus work when you swallow. It can help diagnose problems that affect muscle movement.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend a modified barium swallow or a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). These tests show how your mouth and throat work during swallowing.
Treatment depends on what’s causing your symptoms.
Your doctor may recommend:
If swallowing becomes very difficult and you aren’t getting enough nutrition, a temporary feeding tube may be needed until it’s safe to swallow again.
The right treatment can often make swallowing easier and help you enjoy meals again.
Don’t ignore trouble swallowing. Even if your symptoms seem mild, they may be a sign of a condition that can get worse without treatment.
At Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio, our team can find the cause of your trouble swallowing and recommend the right treatment to help you eat comfortably again. If you’re having ongoing trouble swallowing, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
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