Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing, or the feeling that food is sticking in the throat or behind the breastbone. It should never be ignored, because it may signal a treatable condition or, occasionally, a serious one.
Types of dysphagia
- Oropharyngeal: trouble starting a swallow, coughing or choking while swallowing, or food going into the nose; often caused by stroke, Parkinson’s disease or other nerve and muscle problems
- Oesophageal: a sense of food sticking after it has been swallowed; commonly caused by reflux and narrowing, but also by other conditions
Common causes
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux and oesophagitis, or a stricture from long-standing reflux
- Achalasia and other muscle movement disorders of the oesophagus
- Eosinophilic oesophagitis, a food-allergy related inflammation
- Throat or oesophageal tumours
- Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and muscle disease
- Anxiety, which can cause a feeling of a lump in the throat
See a doctor promptly if
swallowing is getting worse, you are losing weight, you vomit or regurgitate food, you choke often, or you have chest pain. Evaluation may include an endoscopy, a barium swallow and swallowing tests.
What helps in the meantime
Eat slowly, take small bites, chew well, sit upright and avoid very dry or tough foods. Homeopathic treatment is individualised and can support digestive complaints once serious causes have been evaluated.
Learn more
To discuss your situation with a Welling Homeopathy doctor, contact a clinic or call +91 80 80 850 950 for a consultation in person or online.
Disclaimer: this page is for information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Results vary from person to person.
