Irregular, uncoordinated spasms of the muscles in the wall of the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat and stomach) that cause intense chest pain and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Esophageal spasm is rare, and its cause is unknown, although it may be associated with stress. The condition is usually diagnosed through an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series (an X-ray procedure also called a barium swallow) and esophageal manometry, which measures pressure within the esophagus. Attacks of esophageal spasm are intermittent, and the condition is difficult to control. In some cases, to treat the condition and relax the smooth muscle of the esophagus, doctors prescribe calcium channel blocker drugs, medications that are also used to treat high blood pressure.<\/p>\n
Intermittent inability to swallow, often associated with intense chest pain, gagging, or difficulty breathing. It can occur after swallowing cold liquids taken through a straw or may occur in such diverse diseases as rabies, anxiety or depression, or achalasia. In most patients, it is caused by excessive motor function of the esophageal muscles.<\/p>\n
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Irregular, uncoordinated spasms of the muscles in the wall of the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat and stomach) that cause intense chest pain and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Esophageal spasm is rare, and its cause is unknown, although it may be associated with stress. The condition is usually diagnosed through an upper gastrointestinal (GI) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-e"],"yoast_head":"\n