Are there times when you can’t swallow well? Does it feel like there’s a lump at the bottom of your throat or the top of your breastbone?
Nilesh Patel, MD, board-certified otolaryngologist, treats ear, nose, and throat disorders. Dr. Patel can get to the root cause of your difficulty swallowing by ordering special tests such as an upper endoscopy, which examines your esophagus and upper digestive system.
The medical term for having trouble swallowing is dysphagia.
Dysphagia can present symptoms other than having trouble swallowing. You may also have one or any of these symptoms:
If you occasionally have heartburn and trouble swallowing, your dysphagia is likely a result of acid reflux. If acid reflux isn’t treated, it becomes a chronic condition called GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease.
At the base of your esophagus, a muscle called your esophageal sphincter opens to allow food into your stomach and then closes up. However, when you have GERD, that muscle doesn’t close up correctly, allowing food back into your throat.
GERD is a severe form of acid reflux. You may regurgitate some food. You have heartburn after meals. You experience other chronic GERD symptoms, including coughing, laryngitis, pain in your upper chest, and dysphagia. Eating is no longer a pleasure.
It’s important to get medical treatment for GERD. Regurgitation irritates the lining of your esophagus. GERD can result in scar tissue that narrows your esophagus, making it difficult to swallow. Over time, you increase your risk for esophageal cancer.
Medication helps your GERD symptoms, and Dr. Patel prescribes it and follows up with you. Lifestyle changes are also important. If you’re obese, try to lose weight. The excess weight can interfere with your airway and put too much pressure on your esophageal sphincter muscle.
We provide a list of lifestyle changes that help relieve GERD symptoms.
Dysphagia may also be a result of neurological or nervous system disorders such as a stroke, Parkinsons, or multiple sclerosis. It can also be a result of the aging process. Numerous nerves and muscles work together to allow normal swallowing. When the nerves or muscles are impaired, you have trouble swallowing.
Dr. Patel may recommend injections which relax the muscles in your esophagus. Dr. Patel may refer you to a speech-language pathologist who instructs you in exercises and ergonomic changes when eating to help you swallow.
If other treatments don’t work, Dr. Patel performs surgery to open valves that are stuck and correct blockages.
Call either of Dr. Patel’s Midtown, New York, offices or request a same-day appointment through our online portal if you need specialized treatment for your ear, nose, or throat.
