

You may need surgery to treat these problems. Sometimes dysphagia is caused by a tumor or something else blocking the esophagus. If you have a muscle problem causing dysphasia, a medicine called botulinum toxin may be used to relax throat muscles. For example, if your dysphagia is caused by heartburn, your doctor might suggest taking an antacid or acid reducer before every meal. Sometimes, medicine or other treatments may be used to treat the cause of dysphagia. You might need to do exercises to strengthen your swallowing muscles, such as your tongue and your esophagus. Your doctor may also work with you to find foods that are easier for you to swallow. This could be as simple as turning your head at a different angle. Or you may need to change positions while swallowing. This could include chewing carefully or drinking more water while eating.
#Painful swallowing how to#
If poor eating habits are the cause, you may be taught how to improve your ability to swallow. Treatment for your dysphagia will depend on what is causing it. Your throat will also be numbed, so you shouldn’t feel pain when the tube is inserted. This should make you more relaxed and comfortable during the test. You will probably be given a sedative medicine. The doctor may take a small sample of tissue (called a biopsy) to rule out cancer or other possible causes of your dysphagia. He or she will look inside the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine. For this test, the doctor uses a flexible tube with a light at the end of it. This test can show whether something is blocking your esophagus, or if another problem is causing your dysphagia.

Then the doctor can watch it travel through your body on an X-ray machine. During this test, you will drink a liquid that contains a small amount of barium. You may have a test called a barium swallow. If your doctor decides you may have dysphagia, he or she may order tests to figure out what is causing it. Your doctor may also ask you if you’ve coughed or thrown up any blood. They will want to know if you have pain when swallowing or frequent heartburn. He or she will probably ask you what foods or liquids you have trouble swallowing. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms. Certain cancers, an enlarged thyroid, or an enlarged heart may put pressure on the esophagus and cause dysphagia. The scar tissue may narrow the opening of the esophagus and may result in dysphagia. For example, conditions like acid refluxcan damage the esophagus and cause scar tissue to form. This can cause food to move slowly or even get stuck in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that runs from your mouth and throat down to your stomach. These disorders can stop the nerves and muscles in your esophagus from working right.

People who have had a stroke, or people who have Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or myasthenia gravis may have problems swallowing. You may also experience dysphagia if you can’t chew properly because of painful or missing teeth or dentures. So can eating while lying down or not drinking enough water while eating. Eating too fast or taking large bites can cause dysphagia. Many different things can cause dysphagia: See a gastroenterologist if you develop dysphagia so that it can be properly diagnosed and promptly treated.Dysphagia can happen at any age, but it is more common in older people. If you experience difficulty swallowing on a regular basis, you may have a more serious condition requiring treatment. This burning, squeezing sensation while swallowing is caused by irritation to the lining of the esophagus that can occur from acid reflux/GERD, achalasia or bacterial infection. Swallowing can also become painful, which is known as odynophagia. Sensation of food “sticking” in your throat or chest.With chronic acid reflux/GERD, this is happening frequently causing irritation to the esophagus, which can lead to other complications such as dysphagia. When acid reflux occurs, acid flows back into your esophagus causing irritation and discomfort. Difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia, is the feeling of food “sticking” in your throat or chest and is one of the complications of acid reflux/GERD. You may also experience a choking sensation when you swallow food. It can feel as if you have a lump in your throat or that food is stuck in your throat or chest. Pain when swallowing can indicate cancer and should be investigated by a doctor when there are no other obvious causes. Oral cancer can be deadly if not detected and treated early, and often does not have any symptoms in the early stages. If you’ve suffered from heartburn or acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for a long time, you may begin to feel discomfort as food passes through the esophagus. While more rare, sharp pain in the throat when swallowing on one side can be a symptom of oral or throat cancer.
