At first, there may be difficulty with swallowing solid food or pills, but as the narrowing worsens, there may be difficulty with swallowing liquids as well. Patients may also experience heartburn, regurgitation, pain with swallowing, or unintentional weight loss.
The first and most common symptom you'll notice is that it's getting harder to swallow. You might be able to manage this for a while by taking smaller bites and chewing more thoroughly. You might also begin avoiding tougher foods without realizing it.
Known as a stricture, a narrowed esophagus can trap large pieces of food. Tumors or scar tissue, often caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can cause narrowing. Esophageal tumors. Difficulty swallowing tends to get progressively worse when esophageal tumors are present.
Esophagitis is when the lining of your esophagus becomes irritated and inflamed. Causes of esophagitis can include GERD, vomiting, and medicines. You may be at risk for esophagitis if you are pregnant, smoke, or are obese.
Surgery might be needed to relieve swallowing problems caused by throat narrowing or blockages. Blockages include bony outgrowths, vocal cord paralysis, pharyngoesophageal diverticula, GERD and achalasia. Surgery also can treat esophageal cancer. Speech and swallowing therapy is usually helpful after surgery.
The main symptom of an esophageal stricture is dysphagia, meaning difficulty in swallowing. This may manifest as a sensation of food sticking or feeling of delay in food passage in the throat, chest or upper abdomen.
One of the most common early signs of dysphagia is a sensation that food is getting stuck in your throat or chest. You might notice this after swallowing solid foods, but it can happen with liquids, too. This feeling may start gradually and become more frequent over time, turning simple meals into stressful situations.
Common symptoms of esophagitis include:
Although less common, vomiting can occur with GERD. Beware of vomit that is green or yellow in color or looks like coffee grounds, as this may indicate bile or blood.
Esophageal dilation is often the first treatment recommended for a narrowed esophagus. Dilation stretches the area that is narrowed. An endoscope (thin, flexible tube) is used to guide the dilator to the correct spot.
Symptoms of an Esophageal Stricture
Red flags. Any dysphagia is of concern, but certain findings are more urgent: Symptoms of complete obstruction (eg, drooling, inability to swallow anything) Dysphagia resulting in weight loss.
The throat (pharynx) is longer, and more dilated in elderly individuals than in younger ones. The normal time for a single swallow, about 1 second in younger individuals, can be 20% or so longer in older people. This means that the airway has to be protected longer in order for safe swallowing to occur.
You might need esophageal dilation if you have symptoms like:
If it's caused by a viral infection, treat it with rest, warm liquids, throat lozenges, and gargles with saltwater to ease throat pain and tightness. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may ease fever and pain. If a bacterial infection is the cause, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics.
When to seek medical advice. Get emergency medical care if your sore throat is accompanied by: Difficulty breathing. Difficulty swallowing.
GERD can put you at increased risk for serious health complications, including esophagitis, or inflammation of your esophagus. It can also increase your risk for a rare disorder called Barrett's esophagus.
Specific symptoms of internal bleeding
Chest: Difficulty breathing, chest pain and coughing up blood. Abdomen: Swelling or a feeling of fullness, abdominal bruising, as well as bloody vomit, pee or poop. Bones, joints and muscles: Bruising, swelling and pain (compartment syndrome is a medical emergency)
What are the Symptoms of Pyloric Stenosis?
The majority of people who have GERD fall into stage 1, which is characterized by mild heartburn and/or regurgitation. This stage of GERD often leads to mild inflammation in the lower part of the esophagus.
Contact your provider if you have:
Benign esophageal stricture is a narrowing of the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). It causes swallowing difficulties. Benign means that it is not caused by cancer of the esophagus.
The most common cause relates to dysfunction of the upper esophageal sphincter. This dysfunction may occur because of failure of the upper esophageal sphincter to relax or because of the lack of this relaxation to be coordinated with pharyngeal contraction.
Difficulty swallowing or the feeling of choking while eating is the most common symptom of an esophageal disorder. Other symptoms may include indigestion or heartburn, chest pain or pain in the upper back, chronic cough, hoarseness or unexplained weight loss.
Some research has shown that age-related changes to the cervical spine, including herniated discs, have been linked to swallowing difficulties. Spinal misalignment, another common side effect of slipped discs, can lead to nerve dysfunction and damage.