By: Gregory Lam, D.O.

Here’s a pop quiz question anyone should get: What automatic act does your body make that requires your brain, several nerves, a few muscles, and the esophagus? Here’s a hint: It’s no gag.

The answer is swallowing. A range of complex body functions kicks in every time you chew food, so you can get it down comfortably. If something goes wrong in that process, you might feel like your food has gotten stuck in your esophagus (the food tube), or worse – it goes down the wrong pipe.

The medical term for this disorder is dysphagia. Don’t confuse it with how difficult it was to get Brussels sprouts down when you were a kid. The cause of dysphagia is typically more serious than the “yuck” reflex, and can stem from chronic acid reflux, Parkinson’s disease, and inflammation. An estimated one in six adults have the condition.

A Common Problem

The number of dysphagia cases might be higher than one in six, however, many adults try to “just live with it,” or are uncomfortable seeking professional help. As a result, cases can go undiagnosed until they develop serious complications.

Among the common symptoms of dysphagia:

• Feeling like food is lodged in your throat.
• Regularly choking or gagging when swallowing.
• Food taking longer than normal to pass down your esophagus.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, which might trigger dysphagia as a symptom.

If dysphagia becomes more advanced, symptoms could include:

• Lung infections and pneumonia, caused by food or liquid entering your airways.
• Vomiting and regurgitation.
• Weight loss, due to the inability to eat.

If you experience any these symptoms, it’s time to call a doctor and have it checked out. Following is what you can expect.

Diagnosing Dysphagia: 3 Swallowing Tests

Diagnosing dysphagia typically requires seeing how the esophagus reacts when you swallow, which would involve an internal screening. Common tests include:

A barium swallow study (cineradiography) – The patient drinks a solution carrying barium, which coats the esophagus and looks white on an X-ray, so the swallowing process can be captured.

Upper endoscopy – The physician feeds a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) equipped with a lighted camera into the patient’s throat and views swallowing activity on a screen. The test could include a biopsy (under an anesthetic).

The muscle test (manometry) – This procedure measures how your esophagus contracts when you swallow, using pressure sensors that are inserted into through a thin, flexible tube (catheter).

Treating Dysphagia: Finding an Option for You

If you are diagnosed with a swallowing disorder, your treatment will be based on the cause. An impaired muscle function, for example, could be treated by a speech pathologist. If the cause is the immune disorder eosinophilic esophagitis – an allergic reaction – a special diet could help.

If your diagnosis points to something more complex, your doctor might suggest one of these procedures:

Esophageal dilation – This treatment gently stretches the esophagus by inserting and then inflating a small balloon, via an endoscope. Another approach widens the throat using long, flexible tubes of varying diameter.

Medications – If your swallowing issues are caused by acid reflux, or GERD, a prescription can reduce stomach acids.

Gastrostomy tube (G tube) – For more severe cases, a feeding tube is inserted into the stomach through the skin, giving food direct access to the stomach.

Surgery – If your tests reveal an obstruction or irregularity, such as a tumor, you might require surgery to remove it.

Don’t Deprive Yourself of the Joy of Eating, and Life

If it’s hard to get your favorite foods down, then it’s time to consult your gastroenterologist. In time, dysphagia can develop from a minor concern into a life-altering condition. Give us a call to see if your symptoms require further analysis.

Together, you can resolve the issue at your pace, in small bites.

To learn more about swallowing disorders, the causes, and a treatment best for you, visit our web page dedicated to the condition here. If you would like to talk to a doctor, you can request an appointment here.