Esophageal Spasm

What To Know About Esophageal Spasm?

Esophageal Spasm is a known gastrointestinal disorder which presents with bothersome symptoms. Most commonly, it becomes noticeable through having difficulties swallowing food. This disorder, though not very much common, is something that needs immediate medical attention as it can lead to nutritional problems, as well as a possibility of aspiration of food or water into the respiratory system which in turn could cause further complications.

How This Disease Occurs?

The esophagus, as we are all aware of, is a muscular structure that connects our mouth to the stomach. It is the passageway where mechanically digested food passes through. Food goes through the esophagus into the stomach with the aid of regular and coordinated muscular contractions which we call peristalsis. For some reasons, in patients with Esophageal Spasm, peristalsis becomes uncoordinated and irregular, preventing the food particles from being delivered into the stomach. As such, it is stuck inside the esophageal walls.

The exact cause of this disease is still unknown but records show that this condition is aggravated by extremely hot or cold foods. Some research also point out to nerve activity disruptions that lead to uncoordinated impulses in the esophagus.

Signs and Symptoms

People experiencing Esophageal Spasm can feel signs and symptoms which are very similar with that of a heart attack. This may include chest pain or a heavy feeling in the chest which spreads outward to the shoulders, arms, neck and jaw. If you are experiencing these signs and symptoms, it is best to consult your physician to single out the exact problem because you might be suffering from a cardiac disorder.

Other common signs and symptoms of this disorder include:

-       difficulty of swallowing food and liquid or dysphagia;

-       pain upon swallowing;

-       a burning or stinging sensation in the chest;

-       a feeling that the food you swallowed gets stuck in the center of your chest.

If you feel any of the aforementioned conditions, best consult your physician for immediate diagnosis and early treatment.

Treatment of Esophageal Spasm

Esophageal Spasms can be treated symptomatically thus, pain can be relieved by nitrate drugs like nitroglycerin. Anticholinergic drugs can also be used to relax the muscles and prevent spasms or uncoordinated contractions.

Treatment of GERD or reflux disease can also be an option since GERD is commonly related with this certain disease.

In rare cases, surgical procedures may be performed or some devices may be inserted into the esophagus to facilitate flow of food.

Preventing Esophageal Spasm

Esophageal Spasm can give patients a lot of discomforts and it is best to prevent this disease from happening to us. Taking in food, chewing them well and swallowing them slowly can prevent instances of spasm. Also, avoiding extremely hot and cold foods can help prevent recurrence of this disease.

It is always best to consult your doctor if you start to feel any related sign or symptom as this may entail further procedures or treatments to recover from the disease immediately.

But wait it’s not an esophageal spasm It’s heartburn! We can still help by offering your some herbal alternatives to the regular heartburn medicine.

Did you know that the common household product baking soda can do wonder in curing your heartburn and/or acid reflux? Take 12 ounces of water and mix in some regular old baking soda and drink the entire glass and you can be experiencing relief within a half hour. Another great esophageal spasm/heartburn remedy is apple cider vinegar. This tasty drink can really do a lot to fight off heartburn as soon as it starts. Lastly, a little personal thing I like to do is to head to the grocery store and pickup some fresh ginger. I take my fresh ginger and add it to a gallon jug of water, making myself some delicious ginger water. At every meal I pour myself a nice tall glass of ginger water and drink it during my meal making sure to finish it by the end of my dinner. Ginger water is a great heartburn deterrent so give it a try!