Symptom

Difficulty swallowing and swallowing disorders

The medical term for difficulty swallowing is dysphagia.

Symptoms can include:

  • A feeling of choking or coughing when eating or drinking
  • Regurgitating food (bringing up food)
  • A feeling something is caught in your throat

Difficulty swallowing is usually caused by another condition such as stroke, dementia, problems with your oesophagus or gastro-oesophageal reflux. Your GP will perform a full examination and may order further tests. They may then refer you to a specialist consultant.

Related conditions

Chiari malformation

A chiari malformation is a defect in the base of your brain and spinal cord that puts pressure on your cerebellum.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing.

Gastroesophageal Reflux (or Acid Reflux)

Gastroesophageal reflux, also known as acid reflux, is when stomach acid flows into your oesophagus.

Globus Pharyngeus

Globus Pharyngeus refers to the feeling of a lump in the throat.

Head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancers is a term which is used to collectively include many different types of malignant tumours that can occur in or around the throat, larynx, nose, sinuses, and mouth.

Hiatus Hernia

Laryngeal cancer

Laryngeal cancer, or cancer of the larynx, is an uncommon type of cancer that develops inside the tissue of the larynx (voice box). This disease is one of a group known as head and neck cancers.

Laryngitis

Inflammation of your larynx (voice box) is called laryngitis.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in England and Wales.* The most frequent cause of lung cancer is smoking.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Oesophageal cancer

Your oesophagus is the tube that runs from your throat to your stomach.

Oesophageal stricture

Your oesophagus is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach, over time this can narrow.

Oral cancer

Oral cancer, also called mouth cancer, is cancer of the mouth, lips or upper throat.

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease occurs when cells in your brain are damaged over time. Called a progressive neurological condition, symptoms occur due to a lack of a chemical called dopamine.

Pharyngeal pouch

A pharyngeal pouch is bulge or pocket that develops in the top of your oesophagus.

Quinsy

Quinsy is an uncommon side effect of tonsillitis. It occurs when an abscess (infected area) forms between the wall of your throat and a tonsil.

Stomach cancer (gastric cancer)

Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, occurs when cells in your stomach develop abnormally.

Syringomyelia

Syringomyelia occurs when fluid filled cysts form in your spinal cord causing pressure or obstructing nerves.

Thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer occurs when the genetic material of cells in the gland become damaged or changed, producing mutations that affect normal cell growth and division. The abnormal cells then replicate, causing cancer.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis happens if the tonsils become infected.