Questions in the Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Forum have been answered by Dr. Kevin Pho who is board certified in Internal Medicine and by doctors from Henry Ford Health System.

Question Title: Spasm?

Forum: The Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Forum
Topic: Gastroenterology - General


What does esophagueal (sp) spasm feel like? Could these spasms be related to adrenalin release?

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Dear Heather,
Esophageal spasm is described as a tightness, heaviness or sharp pain in the center of the chest. Pain can radiate to shoulder, neck or abdomen. Sweating and nausea may accompany the pain leading physicians to worry that the pain results from heart disease. Some people with spasm will complain of difficulty swallowing solids AND liquids with chest pain produced by swallowing ( especially theramlly hot or cold liquids). Effective therapies that work for everyone (or even most people) are not available. There has been a recent report that esophageal myotomy (cutting the muscle) is beneficial.

This information is presented for educational purposes. Ask specific questions to your personal physician.

HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: esophageal spasm
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