What is dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)?

Difficulty swallowing is also called dysphagia. It is usually a sign of a problem with your throat or esophagus—the muscular tube that moves food and liquids from the back of your mouth to your stomach. Although dysphagia can happen to anyone, it is most common in older adults, babies, and people who have problems of the brain or nervous system.

There are many different problems that can prevent the throat or esophagus from working properly. Some of these are minor, and others are more serious. If you have a hard time swallowing once or twice, you probably do not have a medical problem. But if you have trouble swallowing on a regular basis, you may have a more serious problem that needs treatment.

Dysphagia can come and go, be mild or severe, or get worse over time. If you have dysphagia, you may:

• Have problems getting food or liquids to go down on the first try.
• Gag, choke, or cough when you swallow.
• Have food or liquids come back up through your throat, mouth, or nose after you swallow.
• Feel like foods or liquids are stuck in some part of your throat or chest.
• Have pain when you swallow.
• Have pain or pressure in your chest or have heartburn.
• Lose weight because you are not getting enough food or liquid.

A doctor or speech therapist will examine you to check for swallowing problems. You may get swallowing tests to check how well your throat muscles work. For these tests, you swallow a special liquid that helps the doctor see your throat and esophagus on an X-ray or video screen.

Other tests use a thin, flexible tube called a scope to check for problems with your esophagus. The doctor puts the scope in your mouth and down your throat to look at your esophagus.

Your treatment will depend on what is causing your dysphagia. Treatment for dysphagia includes:

• Exercises for your swallowing muscles. If you have a problem with your brain, nerves, or muscles, you may need to do exercises to train your muscles to work together to help you swallow. You may also need to learn how to position your body or how to put food in your mouth to be able to swallow better.
• Changing the foods you eat. Your doctor may tell you to eat certain foods and liquids to make swallowing easier.
• Dilation. In this treatment, a device is placed down your esophagus to carefully expand any narrow areas of your esophagus. You may need to have the treatment more than once.
• Endoscopy. In some cases, a long, thin scope can be used to remove an object that is stuck in your esophagus.
• Surgery. If you have something blocking your esophagus (such as a tumor or diverticula), you may need surgery to remove it. Surgery is also sometimes used in people who have a problem that affects the lower esophageal muscle (achalasia).
• Medicines. If you have dysphagia related to GERD, heartburn, or esophagitis, prescription medicines may help prevent stomach acid from entering your esophagus. Infections in your esophagus are often treated with antibiotic medicines.

In rare cases, a person who has severe dysphagia may need a feeding tube because he or she is not able to get enough food and liquids.