Difficulty in Swallowing

Swallowing difficulty is the inability to swallow foods or liquids with ease. People who have a hard time swallowing may choke on their food or liquid when trying to swallow. Dysphagia is a another medical name for difficulty swallowing. This symptom isn’t always indicative of a medical condition. In fact, this condition may be temporary and go away on its own.

What causes swallowing difficulty?

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersTrusted Source, there are 50 pairs of muscles and nerves used to help you swallow. In other words, there are lots of things that can go wrong and lead to problems swallowing. Some conditions include:

• Acid reflux and GERD: Acid reflux symptoms are caused when stomach contents flow up from the stomach back into the esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn, stomach pain, and burping. Learn more the causes, symptoms, and treatment of acid reflux and GERD.
• Heartburn: Heartburn is a burning sensation in your chest that often occurs with a bitter taste in your throat or mouth. Find out how to recognize, treat, and prevent heartburn.
• Epiglottitis: Epiglottitis is characterized by inflamed tissue in your epiglottis. It’s a potentially life-threatening condition. Learn who gets it, why, and how it’s treated. This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
• Goiter: Your thyroid is a gland found in your neck just below your Adam’s apple. A condition that increases the size of your thyroid is called a goiter. Read more about the causes and symptoms of goiter.
• Esophagitis: Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus that can be caused by acid reflux or certain medications. Learn more about the types of esophagitis and their treatments.
• Esophageal cancer: Esophageal cancer occurs when a malignant (cancerous) tumor forms in the lining of the esophagus, which can cause difficulty swallowing. Read more about esophageal cancer, its causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Stomach cancer (gastric adenocarcinoma): Stomach cancer occurs when cancerous cells form in the stomach lining. Because it’s difficult to detect, it’s often not diagnosed until it’s more advanced. Learn about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of stomach cancer.
• Herpes esophagitis: Herpes esophagitis is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The infection can cause some chest pain and difficulty swallowing. Learn more about how herpes esophagitis is diagnosed and treated.
• Recurrent herpes simplex labialis: Recurrent herpes simplex labialis, also known as oral or orolabial herpes, is an infection of the mouth area caused by the herpes simplex virus. Read about symptoms, treatment, and prevention of this infection.
• Thyroid nodule: A thyroid nodule is a lump that can develop in your thyroid gland. It can be solid or filled with fluid. You can have a single nodule or a cluster of nodules. Learn what causes thyroid nodules and how they are treated.
• Infectious mononucleosis: Infectious mononucleosis, or mono, refers to a group of symptoms usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Learn about the symptoms and treatments for infectious mononucleosis.
• Snake bites: A bite from a venomous snake should always be treated as a medical emergency. Even a bite from a harmless snake can lead to an allergic reaction or infection. Read more about what to do in the event of a snake bite.

Types of dysphagia

Swallowing occurs in four phases: oral preparatory, oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal. Swallowing difficulty can be broken down into two categories: oropharyngeal (which includes the first three phases) and esophageal.

Oropharyngeal

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is caused by disorders of the nerves and muscles in the throat. These disorders weaken the muscles, making it difficult for a person to swallow without choking or gagging. The causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia are conditions that primarily affect the nervous system such as:

• multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• nerve damage from surgery or radiation therapy
• post-polio syndrome

Esophageal

Esophageal dysphagia is the feeling that something is stuck in your throat. This condition is caused by:

• spasms in the lower esophagus, such as diffuse spasms or the inability of the esophageal sphincter to relax
• tightness in the lower esophagus due to an intermittent narrowing of the esophageal ring
• narrowing of the esophagus from growths or scarring
• foreign bodies lodged in the esophagus or throat
• a swelling or narrowing of the esophagus from inflammation or GERD
• scar tissue in the esophagus due to chronic inflammation or post-radiation treatment

Identifying dysphagia

If you think you may have dysphagia, there are certain symptoms that may be present along with difficulty swallowing.
They include:

• drooling
• a hoarse voice
• feeling that something is lodged in the throat
• regurgitation
• unexpected weight loss
• heartburn
• coughing or choking when swallowing
• pain when swallowing
• difficulty chewing solid foods

These sensations may cause a person to avoid eating, skip meals, or lose their appetite.
Children who have difficulty swallowing when eating may:

• refuse to eat certain foods
• have food or liquid leaking from their mouths
• regurgitate during meals
• have trouble breathing when eating
• lose weight without trying