If you have problems with swallowing, you need to have a medical specialist examine your throat and make a diagnosis. Also called dysphagia, a swallowing difficulty may be due to one of several reasons. If the condition is mild, you may have a problem with food passing through the esophagus. When dysphagia is severe, it may lead to regurgitation of your beverages or food.
Seeking Medical Help
That is why it is imperative to see an ENT doctor in Egg Harbor Township, NJ if you cannot drink beverages or food without experiencing some difficulty. Besides regurgitation, some of the symptoms related to dysphagia include vomiting, choking, coughing, or pain during swallowing. When it is painful to swallow, the condition is termed as odynophagia. However, if the dysphagia is mild, these accompanying symptoms may not appear.
Who to Contact
Even if your swallowing difficulty is mild, you still need to make an appointment with an ENT specialist such as Louis J. Rondinella, MD PA. This type of condition requires a diagnosis so that a treatment plan can be facilitated at once.
Where the Esophagus Is Located
In addition, you can better understand how swallowing is connected with the esophagus by speaking with an ENT doctor. The esophagus itself is a section of the gastrointestinal tract. When foods or drinks are consumed, they travel through the esophagus and into the stomach. While the upper part of the esophagus sits behind the trachea (also called the windpipe), the lower part is situated between the spine and heart.
Some of the Supporting Functions
The wall of the esophagus features muscle layers that are used to push food into the stomach. The inner lining of the esophagus is also comprised of layers of cells as well as some very small glands that secrete mucus. The mucus enables the food to travel down the esophagus.
When you see an ENT doctor, he or she can show you why swallowing can be difficult. Therefore, it pays to visit a medical professional to go over the reasons for dysphagia. Contact an ENT specialist today. View website for more details.
