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Can esophageal spasms cause difficulty breathing?

Can esophageal spasms cause difficulty breathing?

Symptoms that feel like esophageal spasm but occur with heavy sweating, dizziness, or shortness of breath.

What does it feel like when your esophagus spasms?

Esophageal spasms are painful contractions within the muscular tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). Esophageal spasms can feel like sudden, severe chest pain that lasts from a few minutes to hours. Some people may mistake it for heart pain (angina).

Can a narrowed esophagus cause shortness of breath?

This may result in dysphagia – or difficulty swallowing. Passage of food or liquid may be impaired through the esophagus with a sensation of fullness in the chest, a pressure-like sensation, shortness of breath, and inability to swallow food, liquids, or saliva.

How do you relax an esophageal spasm?

Let foods and drinks that are very hot or very cold sit for a bit before eating or drinking them. Suck a peppermint lozenge. Peppermint oil is a smooth muscle relaxant and might help ease esophageal spasms. Place the peppermint lozenge under your tongue.

How long do esophageal spasms last?

The symptoms of esophageal spasms usually come and go. You may notice symptoms at certain times, such as after eating or drinking something very hot or cold. Or symptoms may come on suddenly, out of nowhere. Symptoms may last for a few minutes or more than one hour.

Can anxiety cause esophageal spasms?

In some cases, underlying conditions such as depression, anxiety, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause esophageal spasms. A combination of medications, therapy, and stress-management techniques can help a person manage underlying depression or anxiety.

How do you clear an esophageal blockage?

Ways to remove food stuck in throat

  1. The ‘Coca-Cola’ trick. Research suggests that drinking a can of Coke, or another carbonated beverage, can help dislodge food stuck in the esophagus.
  2. Simethicone.
  3. Water.
  4. A moist piece of food.
  5. Alka-Seltzer or baking soda.
  6. Butter.
  7. Wait it out.

Will Tums help esophageal spasms?

Treat other conditions that can make esophageal spasms worse, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). To treat GERD: Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter medicine. For mild or occasional indigestion, it may help to take antacids, such as Tums or Gaviscon.

How can I soothe my esophagus?

A doctor may recommend certain lifestyle changes for people with esophageal spasms, including:

  1. losing weight if a person is overweight or obese.
  2. avoiding constrictive clothing.
  3. eating smaller meals more frequently.
  4. not eating too close to bedtime or before lying down.
  5. quitting smoking.
  6. avoiding alcohol, especially red wine.

What causes blockage in esophagus?

The esophagus (the hollow tube that leads from the throat to the stomach) can be narrowed or completely obstructed (blocked). Injuries that can progress to obstruction can result from damage to the esophagus caused by the repeated backflow of acid from the stomach (gastroesophageal reflux or GERD), usually over years.

What do spasms in the esophagus feel like?

Esophageal spasms can feel like sudden, severe chest pain that lasts from a few minutes to hours. Esophageal spasms typically occur only occasionally and might not need treatment. But sometimes the spasms are frequent and can prevent food and liquids from traveling through the esophagus.

Can a spasm in the esophage be a heart attack?

The squeezing chest pain associated with esophageal spasms can also be caused by a heart attack. If you experience squeezing chest pain, seek immediate medical care. It’s not clear what causes esophageal spasms.

When to seek medical advice for an esophageal spasm?

When to seek medical advice. Symptoms that feel like esophageal spasm but occur with heavy sweating, dizziness, or shortness of breath Change in the usual patterns of your symptoms of esophageal spasm (new pattern of spreading to the neck, back, shoulder or arm; pain that is more severe than usual)

How long does it take for esophageal spasms to go away?

Esophageal spasms can feel like sudden, severe chest pain that lasts from a few minutes to hours. Esophageal spasms typically occur only occasionally and might not need treatment.