Difficulty swallowing foods or liquids.

What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. It can make it hard to move food or liquids from the mouth to the stomach. Swallowing may take longer than usual, feel uncomfortable or painful, or cause food to feel like it is stuck in the throat or chest.

Dysphagia can affect people of all ages and may result from a variety of conditions involving the mouth, throat, or esophagus.

What causes dysphagia?
Swallowing is a complex process that requires the muscles and nerves of the mouth, throat, and esophagus to work together. Dysphagia occurs when part of this process is disrupted.

Common causes include:

In children, dysphagia may also be associated with premature birth, neurologic conditions, congenital abnormalities of the mouth or throat, or certain heart conditions.

Symptoms of dysphagia
Symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause and severity.

Common symptoms include:

  • Difficulty swallowing food or liquids
  • Pain or discomfort when swallowing
  • A feeling that food is stuck in the throat or chest
  • Choking or coughing while eating or drinking
  • Vomiting or regurgitation after eating
  • Frequent heartburn
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Dehydration

Infants and young children may also experience:

  • Difficulty breastfeeding or feeding
  • Food or liquid leaking from the mouth
  • Coughing or gagging during meals
  • Trouble breathing while eating
  • Recurrent lung infections

Diagnosing dysphagia
Your provider will review your symptoms, medical history and perform a physical exam. Additional testing may be recommended to determine the cause of your swallowing difficulties.

Testing may include:

  • Barium swallow (esophagram)
  • Upper endoscopy (EGD)
  • High-resolution esophageal manometry
  • Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)

These tests help evaluate how well you swallow and identify conditions affecting the esophagus or throat.

Treatment for dysphagia
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of dysphagia and is tailored to your individual needs.

Treatment options may include:

  • Esophageal dilation to widen narrowed areas
  • Medications to treat acid reflux, inflammation or muscle disorders
  • Swallowing therapy with a speech-language pathologist
  • Dietary and texture modifications to make swallowing safer

Diet and lifestyle recommendations
Your provider may recommend changes to improve swallowing and reduce the risk of choking or aspiration, including:

  • Eating slowly and taking small bites
  • Sitting upright during and after meals
  • Avoiding talking while eating
  • Choosing softer foods when appropriate
  • Thickening liquids if recommended
  • Following the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) guidelines when appropriate

When to seek care
Talk with your healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Frequent difficulty swallowing
  • Pain when swallowing
  • Food getting stuck in your throat or chest
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Persistent coughing or choking during meals

Seek emergency medical care immediately if food becomes lodged in your throat and you are unable to swallow or breathe.

Contact us
If you have questions about dysphagia or treatment options, please contact our office at 612-871-1145.