Dysphagia refers to difficulty or discomfort when swallowing food, liquids, or even saliva. It can range from a mild sensation that food is “stuck” to a serious inability to swallow safely.
Dysphagia generally falls into two categories:

• Esophageal dysphagia — the feeling that food is sticking or getting stuck in your throat or chest after you begin to swallow, often related to a problem in the esophagus.
• Oropharyngeal dysphagia — difficulty initiating a swallow, sometimes accompanied by coughing, choking, or gagging, often related to nerve or muscle problems in the throat.

Left untreated, dysphagia can lead to complications such as poor nutrition, dehydration, weight loss, or aspiration pneumonia, which occurs when food or liquid enters the lungs.

You should see a specialist at Florida Digestive Specialists if you experience:

• Pain or discomfort while swallowing
• A sensation of food sticking in your throat or chest
• Coughing, choking, or gagging when eating or drinking
• Regurgitation of food or acid
• Unexplained weight loss
• Recurring heartburn
• Having to cut food into smaller pieces or avoid certain foods

Dysphagia can result from a range of underlying conditions, including:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Esophageal strictures (narrowing)
• Esophagitis or inflammation of the esophagus
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Achalasia and other esophageal motility disorders
• Hiatal hernia
• Esophageal tumors
• Diverticula (pouches in the esophagus)

Your provider at Florida Digestive Specialists starts with a detailed conversation about your symptoms, medical history, and eating habits. Depending on your symptoms, they may recommend one or more diagnostic tests, such as:

• Upper endoscopy (EGD) — a thin, flexible scope with a camera examines your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, allowing your doctor to identify inflammation, strictures, tumors, or other abnormalities, and take a biopsy if needed.
• Esophageal manometry — measures the pressure and coordination of muscle contractions in your esophagus to evaluate how well it’s moving food along.
• Barium swallow study — an X-ray imaging test that tracks how liquid and food move through your esophagus.
• pH monitoring — measures acid levels in your esophagus to evaluate for reflux-related causes.

Once your provider identifies the underlying cause, they’ll discuss a personalized treatment plan, which may include dietary changes, medication, esophageal dilation to widen a narrowed area, or other therapies targeted to the specific condition causing your symptoms.

If you have questions about dysphagia or need to schedule an evaluation, call Florida Digestive Specialists or use the online booking feature.