If you are suffering difficulty swallowing in East Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Westhampton Beach, or East Islip, NY, you need to get help with a diagnosis from treatment. The gastroenterologists at Brookhaven Gastroenterology Associates have years of experience treating the symptoms and causes of difficulty swallowing.
Difficulty Swallowing
The medical name for difficulty swallowing is dysphagia and it can be a frightening experience. Normally, swallowing is a natural reflex and not something that you think much about until it is not working correctly. It may feel like food is sticking in your throat and that you are choking, or you may have trouble breathing. Finding the cause is imperative when you have difficulty swallowing in East Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Westhampton Beach, or East Islip, NY.
Causes
Many things can cause you to have difficulty swallowing. Among the most common are:
GERD- Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the result of the muscle at the end of the esophagus not closing correctly. This allows the contents of your stomach to move back up the esophagus. It can lead to scar tissue in the throat, causing difficulty swallowing.
Food allergies- Food allergies can cause an anaphylactic reaction in those with severe allergies. In these cases, the throat closes and if epinephrine is not given, they can die.
Dry mouth- When your mouth is not producing enough saliva, it can make it difficult to swallow food and even just to swallow.
Esophageal cancer- When cancer is growing in your esophagus one of the first symptoms is difficulty swallowing. It can result in choking on food and usually worsens with time.
Narrowing of the esophagus- Many different conditions and treatments can affect the size of the esophagus, causing it to narrow and make swallowing very difficult.
Spasms of the esophagus- The exact cause of spasms in the esophagus is not known, but it can be caused by drinking a hot or cold beverage.
If you have difficulty swallowing in East Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Westhampton Beach, or East Islip, NY, you can count on the team of gastroenterologists at Brookhaven Gastroenterology Associates. Give one of our offices a call at East Patchogue (631) 289-0300, East Islip (631) 289-0301, Westhampton Beach (631) 289-5101, or Port Jefferson, (631) 289-1708 to make an appointment today.