What does it mean when you have difficulty swallowing?

What does it mean when you have difficulty swallowing?

Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing is a symptom of many different medical conditions. These conditions can include nervous system and brain disorders, muscle disorders, and physical blockages in the throat.

Can swallowing problems be fixed?

Surgery may be recommended to relieve swallowing problems caused by throat narrowing or blockages, including bony outgrowths, vocal cord paralysis, pharyngoesophageal diverticulum, GERD and achalasia, or to treat esophageal cancer. Speech and swallowing therapy is usually helpful after surgery.

Can difficulty swallowing be caused by anxiety?

Stress or anxiety may cause some people to feel tightness in the throat or feel as if something is stuck in the throat. This sensation is called globus sensation and is unrelated to eating. However, there may be some underlying cause. Problems that involve the esophagus often cause swallowing problems.

Can stress cause swallowing problems?

Can anxiety affect your esophagus?

Anxiety affects quite literally every part of your body. One of the areas it affects is the esophagus. Anxiety leads to many esophagus problems that are both real and perceived, and when it causes these symptoms it can sometimes lead to other symptoms and fears that create more anxiety.

Can stress cause swallowing issues?

Why do some people not know they have swallowing problems?

Some people don’t know that they have swallowing problems, because they compensate unconsciously by choosing foods that are easier to eat, or they eat more slowly. However, untreated swallowing problems raises the risk for choking or having large pieces of solid food lodge in the esophagus. How Are Swallowing Problems Diagnosed?

What is the medical term for difficulty swallowing?

People who have a hard time swallowing may choke on their food or liquid when trying to swallow. Dysphagia is a another medical name for difficulty swallowing.

What are the symptoms of a swallowing disorder at Johns Hopkins?

Johns Hopkins gastroenterologists can quickly and accurately diagnose any swallowing disorder you may have. Symptoms of swallowing disorders include: Dysphagia — a sense of food “sticking” on the way down and difficulty passing food or liquid from the mouth to the esophagus to the stomach Coughing during or immediately after swallowing

Why do I have difficulty swallowing and breathing when lying down?

Why do I have difficulty swallowing and breathing when lying down? There are two common causes of difficulty breathing while lying down. The first is related to your weight. For overweight individuals, it can be difficult to draw breath because of the amount of body mass the chest has to lift when lying flat.