About this Symptom Checker
Get emergency care for difficulty swallowing if you:
Difficulty swallowing is usually the result of damage to the esophagus, blockage of the esophagus, or poor function of the nerves and muscles that control swallowing. Find possible causes of difficulty swallowing based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your symptom.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.
Thanks to generous benefactors, your gift today can have 5X the impact to advance AI innovation at Mayo Clinic.