Q. How is esophageal dysphagia treated?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Esophageal dysphagia is a common disorder that affects the esophagus, which is the tube between the throat and stomach. Treatment for esophageal dysphagia depends on its underlying cause. Depending on the underlying condition, some treatments may include lifestyle adjustments such as dietary changes, medications or surgery.
In cases where dietary changes can help, doctors suggest avoiding foods and beverages that are difficult to swallow and/or irritating to your throat. In more serious cases of dysphagia, medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or antacids may be used to reduce acid reflux. Surgery may also be recommended if other methods have not been effective at relieving symptoms of dysphagia.
Botulinum toxin injections into the lower esophagus can help relax tight muscles in some people experiencing pain or difficulty swallowing due to spasticity of their food pipe caused by achalasia – a disorder where nerve fibers become damaged and don’t contract properly leading it from opening normally during eating allowing food particles entering into lungs causing dangerous aspiration pneumonia situation with chest pains/burning sensation if untreated . This injection helps reduce pain and make swallowing easier for those affected by this disorder.
For people who suffer from an obstruction in their esophagus due to severe scarring from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), their doctor might recommend dilating or stretching open their stricture using balloons or bougie dilators inserted through an endoscope procedure under sedation in order for them eat normally again without having any difficulty with swallowing certain types of food items like small bits & pieces up foods not able swallow easily before!
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