Difficult to Swallow
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI

Reviewed By:

Bret Mobley, MD, MS

Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)

Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.

Shohei Harase, MD

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

From our team of 50+ doctors

Content updated on Mar 7, 2024

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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

  • Food / water doesn't go down the throat easily

  • Food can't go down and just stays in my throat

  • Water doesn't go down the throat

  • It is hard to swallow food / water

  • Food gets caught on something when I swallow

  • Fluids can't go down the throat

  • Food coming out of nostrils

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About the Symptom

Difficulty swallowing can be caused by brain conditions or throat disorders such as reflux.

When to see a doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

  • Hard to swallow food or water

Possible Causes

Generally, Difficult to swallow can be related to:

  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis

    Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammation of the esophagus, often triggered by allergens.

  • Suppurative lymphadenitis

    Lymphadenitis suppurativa is the inflammation and suppuration (pus formation) of lymph nodes in the body.

  • Telangiectasia ataxia

    Ataxia-telangiectasia is a rare, inherited disorder that affects the nervous system, immune system, and other body systems starting in childhood, typically before age 5. It causes progressive difficulty with coordinating movements (ataxia), increased risk of cancer and infections. The disorder is due to mutations in the ATM gene, which controls the production of an enzyme that regulates cell division after DNA damage.

  • CADASIL / CARASIL
  • Medullary thyroid cancer
  • Retropharyngeal abscess
  • Esophageal spasm (including achalasia and jackhammer esophagus)

Related serious diseases

Sometimes, Difficult to swallow may be related to these serious diseases:

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

  • Is swallowing difficult for you (e.g. with food or water)?

  • Do you have a fever?

  • Is your throat sore?

  • Are you experiencing heartburn?

  • Is your speech slurred?

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Find Similar Symptoms

Similar symptoms or complaints

Reviewed By:

Bret Mobley, MD, MS

Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)

Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.

Shohei Harase, MD

Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)

Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.

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