Esophageal Spasms

Overview:

Esophageal spasms are muscle contractions affecting the esophagus, often causing pain and in many cases, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and pain when swallowing (odynophagia). They can be characterized by sudden and severe chest pain that will generally subside after a few minutes, but is often mistaken for heart pain due to the location and squeezing sensation. Although most esophageal spasms are infrequent, some people experience them regularly, which can lead to chronic dysphagia and odynophagia. Other symptoms can be regurgitation and the feeling that something may be lodged in the throat.

Causes:

Esophageal spasms generally occur one of two ways. Diffuse esophageal spasms are intermittent muscle contractions during which the regurgitation of foods or liquids also occur. The strong contractions which cause pain may be called nutcracker esophagus and most often is not accompanied by regurgitation. In either case, the cause is the involuntary contraction of the esophageal muscles.

Diagnosis:

Endoscopy and barium x-ray are two of the most effective means of diagnosing esophageal spasms. An esophageal manometry test is another method of diagnosis during which a thin tube is inserted through the nose or mouth and into the esophagus in order to assess the effectiveness of the esophageal swallowing muscles.

Treatment:

Treatment for esophageal spasms will depend upon severity. Occasional esophageal spasms, though they can be painful, most often dissipate relatively quickly (within a few minutes). Paying attention to activities which tend to trigger them can help to mitigate the instances of esophageal spasms. In more severe cases, however, especially when esophageal spasms interfere with eating and drinking, your doctor may prescribe medications which help to relax the swallowing muscles, pain medication, and other medications which may help control underlying causes of heartburn or GERD, as these can contribute to esophageal spasms. If none of these treatment methods help, surgery may be another option to explore with your gastroenterologist.

How Associates in Gastroenterology can help:

Associates in Gastroenterology and our outpatient surgery center, Associated Endoscopy, are equipped with the most state of the art diagnostic and surgical treatment technologies, our physicians are board certified experts in the field of gastroenterology, and our staff has many years of experience with endoscopic procedural care. We have many options for diagnosis and treatment. If you have been living with persistent heartburn or other symptoms mentioned above, we can advise you of the best treatment options for your situation, and we have all of the tools in place for your comfort and effective treatment. Please give us a call today.