Dysphagia

Overview

Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) comprises problems that usually fall into two categories:

• Oropharyngeal dysphagia — related to nerve and muscle problems that can weaken your throat muscles and make it difficult to move food from your mouth into your throat. Examples are Lou Gehrig's disease and stroke.
• Esophageal dysphagia — referring to the sensation of food sticking or getting hung up in the swallowing tube (esophagus). Examples are esophageal cancer and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for dysphagia

• Experience. Each year, Mayo Clinic specialists treat more than 9,000 people who have dysphagia.
• Multispecialty care. Mayo Clinic's teamwork system brings together all of the specialists you need to treat your problem — digestive specialists (gastroenterologists), throat specialists (ENT), neurologists, thoracic surgeons, rehabilitation specialists and speech-language pathologists. Mayo campuses have special clinics to coordinate care for people with dysphagia.
• Research advances. Mayo Clinic has made and continues to make important research contributions to the treatment of dysphagia and its causes. Because of this, you have access to the latest advances in dysphagia diagnosis and treatment.
• Comprehensive, advanced testing. Mayo Clinic offers high-tech testing options to identify the cause of your dysphagia. The results from most tests are typically available within a few hours.
• Latest treatments. Mayo Clinic is a leader in treatments such as dilation for esophageal narrowing (strictures), stent placement for blockages and surgery, when necessary.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., ranks No. 1 for digestive disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked high performing for digestive disorders by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart

Read more about dysphagia.