Yahoo Lifestyle If You Notice This One Thing While You're Eating, Talk to Your Doctor
You probably don’t think too much about eating. You pop something in your mouth, chew it up and swallow it. But, sometimes, what you eat may seem like it won’t go down, or it feels like it’s stuck in your throat.
Eating too fast, talking while you’re chowing down, not chewing enough or munching on dry foods might cause difficulty swallowing from time to time, doctors say. But, if it happens a lot, it could be a sign of a medical problem, and you should get it checked out.
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Here’s what you should know about difficulty swallowing, what can cause it and when to see a doctor.
Talk to Your Doctor When You Notice This While Eating
When you eat, food enters the mouth, passes through your throat and then goes into your esophagus, explains Angelica Nocerino, MD, a gastroenterologist at MedStar Health.
So, there are three swallowing stages: mouth (the oral stage), throat (the pharyngeal stage) and the esophageal stage, says Dr. Sara Abu-Ghanem, MD, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at Maimonides Health in Brooklyn, New York. “Trouble swallowing can be a dysfunction in any one of these phases.”
Related: This Is the Very Best Side to Sleep On If You Have Acid Reflux, According to a G.I. Doc
Technically known as dysphagia, difficulty swallowing can be caused by many things, and it’s not always something to worry about, she says. However, ongoing dysphagia can be a serious medical condition.
Dysphagia can happen at any age, with about 1 in 25 U.S. adults experiencing it every year, Dr. Abu-Ghanem says. It’s more common in older adults.
When you struggle with swallowing, she says you might have other symptoms, too, like throat pain, feeling like food gets stuck in your throat or chest, coughing, choking, weight loss, voice changes, drooling, regurgitation or vomiting.
Common Reasons for Difficulty Swallowing
There are lots of reasons you might have difficulty swallowing. Most commonly, it’s a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, says Dr. Eric Yoon, MD, a gastroenterologist at Manhattan Gastroenterology. GERD can cause inflammation of the lower esophagus caused by chronic acid reflux, making it hard to swallow.
Related: The 7-Day GERD Diet Plan Registered Dietitians Swear By
Dr. Nocerino says several other factors could be to blame, including:
Medications like NSAIDs or antibiotics, such as doxycycline, can cause inflammation in the esophagus.
Infections, such as strep throat or thrush, can cause swallowing problems affecting the throat.
Throat or mouth disorders, including post-nasal drip or enlarged tonsils, can affect the initiation of swallowing.
Eosinophilic esophagitis, an immune system reaction to certain foods, allergens or environmental factors, can cause damage to the esophageal lining, leading to swelling, scarring and narrowing of the esophagus.
Esophageal motility disorders, such as achalasia, where the esophageal muscles don’t contract properly.
Esophageal strictures, when scar tissue from acid reflux, infections or surgery causes narrowing.
Neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), can interfere with the nerves and muscles that control swallowing.
Muscle disorders, such as scleroderma or lupus, which affect the muscles involved in swallowing.
“Stress, anxiety or depression can sometimes lead to difficulty swallowing,” Dr. Nocerino says. “Globus sensation is a feeling of a lump or tightness in the throat often related to anxiety or stress, but it doesn't typically interfere with the physical act of swallowing food.”
When to Worry
If you have ongoing difficulty swallowing, see your doctor, Dr. Yoon emphasizes, especially if you’ve tried over-the-counter acid or heartburn medications like famotidine or omeprazole. He says you should also see a doctor if you have a family history of esophageal cancer, too.
Check with your doctor if swallowing is painful and you have to change your diet to avoid certain food textures, Dr. Abu-Ghanem adds. Choking, coughing and unintended weight loss are other symptoms to watch for, as well as blood in your saliva or stool, or you’re vomiting blood, Dr. Nocerino says.
Related: 'I'm a Gastroenterologist, and This Is the One After-Dinner Habit I Swear By'
Seek emergency care if food is getting stuck in your throat and it’s hard to breathe, or if you can’t swallow liquids, Dr. Yoon adds.
How Your Doctor Can Help
Your doctor will discuss your symptoms and medical history and complete a medical exam, which usually includes an oral and neck exam, Dr. Abu-Ghanem says. Then, they may refer you to a gastroenterologist or otolaryngologist (ENT).
An ENT doctor will likely do a laryngoscopy, which is an exam of the throat and voice box using a small camera, she says.
You may need a fluoroscopic swallowing study, which involves eating or drinking while being filmed under x-ray to see how food moves in the mouth and throat, Dr. Nocerino says. An endoscopy can examine the esophagus, stomach and part of the small intestines, and CT scans may be used to check for tumors or structural abnormalities in the head, neck or chest.
Other potential tests include an esophagram (or barium swallow), which involves swallowing a contrast solution and tablet to examine the anatomy of the esophagus and mortality of the esophagus and upper stomach, Dr. Yoon adds. An esophageal manometry can help study the muscle function and anatomy of the esophagus and upper stomach.
How Is Difficulty Swallowing Treated?
“Once the cause is identified, the doctor will suggest an appropriate treatment,” Dr. Nocerino says. This may include medications, swallowing therapy, surgery or endoscopic treatments.
If the problem is related to acid reflux, Dr. Yoon says doctors may recommend diet or lifestyle modifications to avoid foods or drinks that trigger the symptoms, like spicy or acidic items, alcohol, carbonated beverages or oily, greasy foods.
Ultimately, dysphagia is treatable, so it’s important to seek help, Dr. Nocerino says. “Difficulty swallowing is not something to ignore, but the right diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the situation. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare professional if you’re concerned.”
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Sources:
Angelica Nocerino, MD, a gastroenterologist at MedStar Health
Sara Abu-Ghanem, MD, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at Maimonides Health
Eric Yoon, MD, a gastroenterologist at Manhattan Gastroenterology
Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing), Cleveland Clinic
The prevalence of dysphagia among adults in the United States, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
