Signs and symptoms associated with dysphagia may include:
- Having pain while swallowing (odynophagia)
- Being unable to swallow
- Having the sensation of food getting stuck in your throat or chest or behind your breastbone (sternum)
- Being hoarse
- Bringing food back up (regurgitation)
- Having frequent heartburn
- Having food or stomach acid back up into your throat
- Unexpectedly losing weight
- Coughing or gagging when swallowing
- Having to cut food into smaller pieces or avoiding certain foods because of trouble swallowing
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you regularly have difficulty swallowing or if weight loss, regurgitation or vomiting accompanies your dysphagia.
If an obstruction interferes with breathing, call for emergency help immediately. If you're unable to swallow because you feel that the food is stuck in your throat or chest, go to the nearest emergency department.
Oct. 15, 2014
- Fass R. Overview of dysphagia in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Aug. 6, 2014.
- Dysphagia. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/dysph.aspx. Accessed Aug. 6, 2014.
- Swallowing trouble. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/swallowingTrouble.cfm. Accessed Aug. 6, 2014.
- Dysphagia: Esophageal and swallowing disorders. The Merck Manual for Health Care Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal_disorders/esophageal_and_swallowing_disorders/dysphagia.html. Accessed Aug. 6, 2014.
- Dysphagia. American College of Gastroenterology. http://patients.gi.org/topics/dysphagia/. Accessed Aug. 6, 2014.
- Lembo AJ. Oropharyngeal dysphagia: Clinical features, diagnosis, and management. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Aug. 6, 2014.
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