Throat & Voice
Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)
Food sticking, frequent throat clearing while eating, or pain with swallowing — dysphagia has findable causes and effective treatments.
Difficulty swallowing can come from the throat or the esophagus: reflux-related irritation and strictures, muscle coordination problems, a cricopharyngeal (upper valve) that will not relax, Zenker’s diverticulum, or — uncommonly — a growth. Dr. Bortniker evaluates swallowing with a careful history and in-office flexible endoscopy of the throat, coordinating imaging studies and specialist care when the esophagus is involved.
Symptoms Worth Evaluating
- Food sticking in the throat
- Coughing or choking when eating
- Painful swallowing
- Unintended weight loss
Talk to a specialist
A systematic evaluation of swallowing trouble — Somerville and Warren offices.
How Swallowing Problems Are Evaluated
The exam localizes the problem: throat-level trouble (coughing at the start of a swallow, food sticking high) versus esophageal trouble (sticking behind the breastbone). Flexible endoscopy visualizes the throat and voice box; barium swallow studies and esophagoscopy map the rest when needed.
Treatment
Treatment targets the cause — reflux therapy, swallowing therapy with speech-language pathology, dilation of strictures, or surgical treatment of structural problems. Red flags such as progressive difficulty, pain or weight loss are prioritized for prompt workup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is occasional food sticking normal?
An isolated episode with dry food happens to everyone. A pattern — food sticking regularly, meals taking longer, avoiding certain textures — is worth an evaluation.