Trouble swallowing (dysphagia) can feel like food is getting stuck, moving slowly, or going down the “wrong way.” Some people cough or choke when they eat or drink, need extra time to chew, or avoid certain textures because they are hard to swallow. Dysphagia can be caused by problems in the mouth or throat, narrowing or irritation of the esophagus, muscle or nerve conditions, or, less commonly, growths or tumors.
Because trouble swallowing can increase the risk of choking, weight loss, or pneumonia, and may signal serious disease, it is important to talk about these symptoms with a specialist.
Dysphagia can involve problems starting a swallow, moving food from the mouth to the throat, or getting food down the esophagus. Symptoms may be mild at first and progress over time, or they may come and go depending on what you are eating or drinking.
Call our office promptly if you have ongoing trouble swallowing or feel food or pills sticking in your throat or chest. Contact us sooner if you’re avoiding foods, have swallowing issues with heartburn/regurgitation or unexplained weight loss, or you’re having recurrent coughing or chest infections that may be related.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you suddenly cannot swallow and feel like food is stuck, if you have trouble breathing, severe chest pain, or you can’t clear your saliva, or if you choke and can’t catch your breath. These symptoms can signal a blockage or another emergency and should be evaluated right away.
We begin by asking when your swallowing problems started, whether they are getting worse, and which foods or liquids cause trouble. We also ask about weight loss, heartburn, regurgitation, coughing, and any neurologic or muscle conditions.
Depending on your symptoms, testing may include an upper endoscopy (EGD) to look at the esophagus and stomach, a barium swallow X-ray test, or specialized swallowing studies. In some cases, esophageal manometry or imaging of the neck and chest is needed. These tests help us understand whether the problem is structural (such as narrowing or a ring), inflammatory (such as reflux damage), or related to muscle or nerve coordination.
Treatment for dysphagia depends on the cause. If acid reflux or inflammation is contributing, acid-reducing medication and reflux control can help. Narrowed areas of the esophagus can sometimes be safely stretched (dilated) during an endoscopy. Certain muscle or neurologic problems may be managed with swallow therapy from a speech-language pathologist, changes in food texture, or other targeted treatments.
Our team will work with you to improve comfort and safety with eating and drinking, reduce the risk of choking or aspiration, and address any underlying conditions that are found.
If your insurance requires a referral or prior authorization, our billing office will make every effort to obtain it before services are rendered. If you choose to proceed without required authorization, insurance may deny coverage. If you are a Medicare patient, you may be asked to sign an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) acknowledging financial responsibility if insurance does not pay. If you are enrolled in a commercial insurance plan you will be asked to sign a non-covered services form.