Food Getting Stuck in Your Throat? Here's What You Should Do
If food frequently gets stuck in your throat or chest while eating, don't ignore it. Although it may happen occasionally if you eat too quickly, repeated episodes can indicate an underlying problem that needs medical attention. Food getting stuck may be caused by narrowing of the food pipe (esophageal stricture), long-standing acid reflux (GERD), inflammation of the esophagus, achalasia, or, less commonly, esophageal cancer. You may also experience pain while swallowing, choking, vomiting after meals, or unexplained weight loss. The best way to find the cause is an upper GI endoscopy , which allows a gastroenterologist to examine the food pipe, stomach, and upper intestine using a thin flexible camera. With appropriate sedation, painless endoscopy is comfortable for most patients. If the food pipe is narrowed, esophageal (food pipe) dilatation can be performed to gently widen the blockage and improve swallowing. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications and help yo...