When it comes to staying healthy, the first thing you probably focus on is providing your body with the necessary nutrients and vitamins, but have you ever given a thought to the actual act of swallowing?

The simple act of delivering foods and fluids from your mouth to your stomach is actually a complex process that involves many different nerves and muscles working in perfect coordination.

Any disruption in this process can be a miserable and sometimes scary experience. Difficulty in swallowing which is also known as dysphagia is a condition that can have different causes and different impacts on your overall health.

If difficulty in swallowing has been plaguing you for months without any clear reason, it’s important to seek the right treatment and address the condition before it worsens. Consult a renowned gastroenterologist in Hyderabad, Dr. KV Dinesh Reddy, to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

What is Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing)?

Dysphagia means you have trouble swallowing. When you eat or drink, your body uses many muscles and nerves to move food or liquids from your mouth to your stomach. If something isn’t working right, swallowing may feel slow, uncomfortable, or even painful. You might cough, choke, or feel like something is stuck when you try to swallow—even your own saliva.

You’ve probably experienced this before. If you’ve ever eaten too fast and felt like food got stuck, or if you had to clear your throat after swallowing, you know what dysphagia feels like. Usually, it’s nothing serious. But if it happens often, it could be a sign of a bigger problem. Dysphagia is common after a stroke, and if left untreated, it can cause food or liquid to enter your airway (aspiration), leading to infections like pneumonia.

If swallowing becomes difficult, a gastroenterologist in Hyderabad can assess your condition and help you manage it.

Types of Dysphagia

Swallowing happens in three main stages—through your mouth, throat, and esophagus. If something goes wrong in any of these areas, it can make swallowing difficult.

Oral Dysphagia: The problem is in your mouth. Your teeth, jaw, and tongue work together to chew food and mix it with saliva. If you have trouble chewing or moving food around, swallowing becomes harder.

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: The issue is in your throat. Your tongue pushes food to the back of your throat, and your voice box (larynx) closes to keep food out of your airway. If this stage doesn’t work properly, food may not move smoothly into your esophagus.

Esophageal Dysphagia: The problem is in your esophagus—the tube that carries food to your stomach. Normally, your esophagus moves food down in a wave-like motion (peristalsis). If this doesn’t happen correctly, food can feel stuck or move too slowly.

The last two stages of swallowing happen automatically, without you even realizing it. Once food or liquid moves past your throat, your body takes over the process, making sure it reaches your stomach safely.

Symptoms of Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing can feel different for everyone. Some may experience mild discomfort, while others struggle to swallow even liquids. The symptoms often depend on what’s causing the problem.

Common Signs of Dysphagia

1. Feeling as if food is stuck in your throat or chest.
2. Pain while swallowing (odynophagia).
3. Coughing or choking when eating or drinking.
4. Frequent throat clearing or the sensation of food “going down the wrong way.”
5. Drooling or difficulty managing saliva.
6. Hoarseness or voice changes after eating.
7. Regurgitation of food or liquids, sometimes through the nose.
8. Unexplained weight loss due to reduced food intake.
9. Recurring pneumonia from food or liquids entering the airway (aspiration).

If you experience these symptoms frequently, see a gastroenterologist in Hyderabad for evaluation before the symptoms become difficult to manage.

What Causes Difficulty in Swallowing

Dysphagia can occur due to various underlying conditions, including:

1. Acid reflux causing irritation or damage to the esophagus
2. Infections such as tonsillitis that lead to throat inflammation
3. Age-related weakening of the swallowing muscles
4. Blockage caused by food or foreign objects, especially in older individuals
5. Scarring or narrowing of the esophagus due to previous conditions
6. Weakness or paralysis of the vocal cords
7. Side effects of certain medications affecting muscle control
8. Tumors in the throat, lungs, or esophagus that obstruct swallowing
9. Prolonged illness requiring extended hospital stays
10. Previous surgeries or radiation treatment to the neck, chest, or back
11. Neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Myasthenia Gravis, or stroke

How is Difficulty in Swallowing Treated?

When swallowing problems happen often and the cause isn’t clear, a detailed check-up is needed. First, the doctor will discuss symptoms and take a medical history. Then, he will check your mouth and throat. A small flexible tube may be passed through the nose to look at the throat, voice box, and how swallowing works. Sometimes, food or liquid is given during this test to see the swallowing process better.

Other tests may include a barium swallow, where X-rays track how food moves down the esophagus. If needed, a thin flexible scope may be used to examine the esophagus and stomach more closely. In some cases, pressure testing may be done to check how well the swallowing muscles are working.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the problem. If acid reflux is involved, medications to control stomach acid may help. For muscle-related issues, swallowing exercises and therapy can strengthen the muscles and improve function. Dietary changes, like switching to softer foods or thickened liquids, may also be recommended to make swallowing easier.

If there’s an obstruction, procedures may be needed to widen the esophagus or remove blockages. In severe cases, a feeding tube may be necessary to maintain proper nutrition.

If you regularly struggle to swallow, it’s time to book an appointment with the best gastroenterologist in Hyderabad, Dr. KV Dinesh Reddy. Persistent swallowing difficulty usually has an underlying cause, and if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications like choking, dehydration, malnutrition, and pneumonia.