What Causes Trouble Swallowing

Many people have trouble swallowing liquids or foods. This disease is also known as dysphagia. It is temporary most of the times.

You will be able to swallow with the assistance of 50 pairs of nerves and muscles. If anything goes on these nerves and muscles, you will have trouble swallowing.

Some of the causes of trouble swallowing include Epiglotittis, stomach cancer, GERD or acid reflux, heartburn, Esophagitis, Goiter, snake bites, infectious mononucleosis, Thyroid nodule, and Recurrent Herpes Simplex Labialis.

You will have trouble in swallowing due to Pharyngeal, Oral, Oral Preparatory, and esophageal.
The difficulty in swallowing is classified into esophageal and oropharyngeal.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia mainly affects your nervous system. It creates a difficulty to swallow the food. You will suffer from this due to post polio syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and nerve damage caused due to radiation therapy or surgery. Other causes of Oropharyngeal dysphagia include the neck, head or esophageal cancer.

You may have a feeling that something is stuck in your throat. It is called Esophageal dysphagia. Causes of Esophageal dysphagia include tightness in the lower esophagus, spasms in the lower esophagus, and chronic inflammation etc.

It can be diagnosed with symptoms including heart burn, pain when swallowing, a hoarse voice, drooling, cough and sudden weight loss.

If you are unable to get rid of heartburn even after taking medicines and incorporating lifestyle changes, surgery is the only option. Nissen Fundoplication Surgery is recommended for the treatment of heartburn.


In this surgical procedure, the surgeon utilizes special tools such a camera and light embedded in a thin tube. It is known as laparoscope. The surgeon makes a large cut in the abdomen for surgery and small openings for the laparoscopic surgery. 


The skilled and qualified surgeon carefully carries out the Nissen Fundoplication Surgery to treat heartburn. 

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