Skip to main content

DIGESTIVE SERVICES

Symptoms & Causes

Dysphagia

Find a specialist

What Is Dysphagia?

What Is Dysphagia?

Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. People with dysphagia have trouble moving food or liquid from the mouth to the esophagus and down to the stomach. Severity can range from mild discomfort with swallowing to the inability to swallow or move food down at all.

Consistent swallowing difficulties should be evaluated and may require treatment. The treatment depends on the cause of the difficulty swallowing.

Signs & Symptoms of Dysphagia

Symptoms
  • Sensation of food being stuck in the throat or chest
  • Inability to swallow
  • Food piling up in the chest
  • Pain while swallowing
  • Regurgitation of food
  • Chest pain with eating
  • Choking on food
  • Coughing or gagging while swallowing
  • Hoarseness
  • Frequent heartburn
  • Weight loss

Types of Dysphagia

Types

There are two main types of dysphagia: oropharyngeal dysphagia and esophageal dysphagia.

  • Oropharyngeal dysphagia occurs when there is a problem moving food from the mouth into the throat. This swallowing disorder may occur due to a weakening of the throat muscles or a neurological problem.
  • Esophageal dysphagia occurs when there is a problem moving food through the esophagus into the stomach. There may be a sensation of food getting caught in the chest or regurgitation of food. This may occur when there is a blockage or swelling in the esophagus or if there is abnormal movement of the muscles of the esophagus.

More to explore

Risk Factors

Risk Factors

There are a few factors that may increase your likelihood of developing dysphagia, including:

  • Older age: Older adults are more likely to experience trouble swallowing than younger adults.
  • Certain health conditions: Some muscular or neurological disorders can increase the risk of dysphagia, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and systemic sclerosis.

Complications

Complications

Dysphagia can lead to several complications, ranging in severity from mild to serious.

Complications of dysphagia include:

  • Weight loss, dehydration, and malnutrition may result from insufficient food and water.
  • Choking can occur due to difficult swallowing.
  • Aspiration pneumonia can occur when food or liquid is introduced to the airways during attempts to swallow, resulting in lung inflammation and bacteria.
  • Food impactions can occur, in which food gets stuck in the esophagus and cannot pass during swallowing.
Get Care

Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Dysphagia Care

If you’re having persistent problems swallowing, it’s important to find the cause of the dysphagia and seek prompt treatment. The doctors at NewYork-Presbyterian can help determine the reason for your symptoms and create a personalized care plan to help you avoid complications from this swallowing disorder.