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• Conditions (25): Digestive and Gastrointestinal, Hirschsprung's Disease, Short Bowel Syndrome, and 22 others Digestive and Gastrointestinal, Hirschsprung's Disease, Short Bowel Syndrome, Pancreatitis, Pancreatic Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Celiac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis, Achalasia, Fructose Intolerance, Crohn's Disease, GERD & Heartburn, Diseases and Conditions, Ulcerative Colitis, Genetic and Rare Conditions, Esophageal Diseases, Esophageal motility disorders, Esophageal spasm, Barrett Esophagus, Gastrointestinal Diseases, CREST Syndrome, Mallory-Weiss Syndrome, Cyclic Vomiting syndrome, Deglutition Disorders [hide]
• Groups (13): Achalasia, Hirschsprung's Disease, Pancreatitis, and 10 others Achalasia, Hirschsprung's Disease, Pancreatitis, Short Bowel Syndrome, Pancreatic Cancer, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Esophageal Cancer, Celiac Disease, Esophageal Atresia and/or Tracheosophageal Fistula, Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis, GERD & Heartburn, IBDSucks 2.0, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis [hide]
• Symptoms (1): Achalasia Achalasia [hide]
• Treatments (15): Heller's myotomy for achalasia, Pneumatic dilatation for achalasia, Esophageal Dilatation, and 12 others Heller's myotomy for achalasia, Pneumatic dilatation for achalasia, Esophageal Dilatation, Benzatropine Methanesulfonate, Heller Myotomy, Trihexyphenidyl Hydrochloride, Benztropine 1 MG Oral Tablet, Alendronate 35 MG Oral Tablet, Benztropine 1 MG/ML Injectable Solution, Alendronate 5 MG Oral Tablet, Alendronate 35 MG, Trihexyphenidyl 2 MG Oral Tablet, Alendronate, risedronate sodium, BENZTROPINE MESYLATE 1 MG [hide]

About Esophageal Dysphagia

Esophageal dysphagia arises from the body of the esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter, or cardia of the stomach. Usually it is due to mechanical causes or motility problems. Patients usually experience food getting stuck several seconds after swallowing, and will point to the suprasternal notch or behind... more

Esophageal dysphagia arises from the body of the esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter, or cardia of the stomach. Usually it is due to mechanical causes or motility problems.

Patients usually experience food getting stuck several seconds after swallowing, and will point to the suprasternal notch or behind the sternum as the site of obstruction. If there is dysphagia to both solids and liquids, then it is most likely a motility problem. If there is dysphagia initially to solids but progresses to also involve liquids, then it is most likely a mechanical obstruction. Once a distinction has been made between a motility problem and a mechanical obstruction, it is important to note whether the dysphagia is intermittent or progressive. An intermittent motility dysphagia likely can be diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) or nonspecific esophageal motility disorder (NEMD). Progressive motility dysphagia disorders include scleroderma or achalasia with chronic heartburn, regurgitation, respiratory problems, or weight loss. Intermittent mechanical dysphagia is likely to be an esophageal ring. Progressive mechanical dysphagia is most likely due to peptic stricture or esophageal cancer.

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