Gastroenterologists

  Do you sometimes have trouble swallowing? You might have esophageal spasms. Esophageal spasms are contractions in the esophagus that can cause difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or both. The esophagus is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach, and esophageal spasms occur when this tube contracts involuntarily. In most cases, esophageal spasms only happen occasionally and are not a serious problem. However, sometimes they can be more frequent and prevent food from traveling to the stomach. Types of esophageal spasms There are two main different types of esophageal spasms, and the symptoms can vary depending on the type.  The most common type is called diffuse (or distal) esophageal spasm (DES), and it usually causes difficulty swallowing. DES occurs when the muscles in the esophagus contract erratically, making it difficult for food to pass and cause regurgitation or swallowed food and drink to come back up the esophagus. It may also feel like an object or food is stuck in