Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Abnormal muscle spasms in the esophagus are called esophageal spasms. The esophagus is the tube that connects your mouth and stomach. On either end of the esophagus are sphincter muscles that flex and contract as part of the digestive process. Within the tube are valves that work to move food from the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal spasms can be painful and prevent food from passing from mouth to stomach.
In this article, you’ll learn more about what is an esophageal spasm and what symptoms are associated with esophageal spasm, along with possible causes of esophageal spasm and treatment options.
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Symptoms of Esophageal Spasm
The symptoms associated with esophageal spasms can come and go and range in severity. Some people may experience no symptoms, while others experience mild symptoms. Mild symptoms can come on suddenly after drinking or eating, or they may come on suddenly with no apparent cause. Mild symptoms can come and go for minutes or over an hour.
Some symptoms are severe and may require immediate medical attention from a healthcare provider.
When to Seek Emergency Services for Chest PainWhile minor chest pain is a symptom of esophageal spasms, in some cases thepaincan become so severe it feels like a panic attack or heart attack. Call your healthcare provider or seek immediate medical support if you have sudden, severe chest pain.
When to Seek Emergency Services for Chest Pain
While minor chest pain is a symptom of esophageal spasms, in some cases thepaincan become so severe it feels like a panic attack or heart attack. Call your healthcare provider or seek immediate medical support if you have sudden, severe chest pain.
Symptoms of esophageal spasms include:
Types of Esophageal SpasmsThe two types of esophageal spasms are diffuse spasms and nutcracker esophagus:Diffuse (or Distal) Esophageal Spasms:This type of esophageal spasm occurs occasionally and causes food or drink to come back up.Nutcracker Esophagus:This condition affects how the esophagus works. Withnutcracker, or jackhammer, esophagus (hypertensive peristalsis), the muscle contractions are powerful and strong enough to cause pain. The pain is worse when swallowing, and it can feel like squeezing in your chest. It doesn’t typically cause regurgitation.
Types of Esophageal Spasms
The two types of esophageal spasms are diffuse spasms and nutcracker esophagus:Diffuse (or Distal) Esophageal Spasms:This type of esophageal spasm occurs occasionally and causes food or drink to come back up.Nutcracker Esophagus:This condition affects how the esophagus works. Withnutcracker, or jackhammer, esophagus (hypertensive peristalsis), the muscle contractions are powerful and strong enough to cause pain. The pain is worse when swallowing, and it can feel like squeezing in your chest. It doesn’t typically cause regurgitation.
The two types of esophageal spasms are diffuse spasms and nutcracker esophagus:
Diffuse (or Distal) Esophageal Spasms:This type of esophageal spasm occurs occasionally and causes food or drink to come back up.
Nutcracker Esophagus:This condition affects how the esophagus works. Withnutcracker, or jackhammer, esophagus (hypertensive peristalsis), the muscle contractions are powerful and strong enough to cause pain. The pain is worse when swallowing, and it can feel like squeezing in your chest. It doesn’t typically cause regurgitation.
Nutcracker Esophagus (Hypertensive Peristalsis)?
Associated SymptomsSymptoms of esophageal spasm, including acid reflux or regurgitation and feeling like something is stuck in the throat, can lead to feeling like you need to clear your throat.These associated symptoms can lead to:CoughingVoice hoarsenessSore throatIncreased discomfort in the esophageal area
Associated Symptoms
Symptoms of esophageal spasm, including acid reflux or regurgitation and feeling like something is stuck in the throat, can lead to feeling like you need to clear your throat.These associated symptoms can lead to:CoughingVoice hoarsenessSore throatIncreased discomfort in the esophageal area
Symptoms of esophageal spasm, including acid reflux or regurgitation and feeling like something is stuck in the throat, can lead to feeling like you need to clear your throat.
These associated symptoms can lead to:
There are several potential causes of esophageal spasms, but the exact cause is still unknown. Suspected causes of esophageal spasms include:
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How to Treat an Esophageal Spasm
Lifestyle Modifications
Lifestyle modifications include reducing triggers for esophageal spasms. One example is quitting smoking (if you smoke) because the smoke irritates and eventually weakens the esophageal lining and sphincter muscles.
Your healthcare provider may also suggest reaching a healthy body weight to relieve pressure on your lower esophagus and upper abdomen, as well as avoiding dietary triggers for acid reflux, such as spicy foods, which irritate the esophageal lining.
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Medications
Your healthcare provider may recommend medication that relaxes the muscles used for swallowing. Calcium channel blockers may also be prescribed.
Certain antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants and selection serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered a mainstay of treatment for esophageal issues.These medications are prescribed because they effectively target nerves to relieve pain associated with spasms. There is not a lot of clinical research conducted on the use of antidepressants for this specific type nerve pain, though.
Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Injections
Research also shows while Botox injections work for reducing esophagus spasms, this treatment may also induce or trigger symptoms of GERD.
Botox (OnabotulinumtoxinA) - Intramuscular, Intradetrusor, or Intradermal
Surgery
In severe cases in which other options have not provided adequate relief from esophageal spasms, your healthcare provider may suggest surgical treatment. Surgery for esophageal spasm is called myotomy. It requires an incision in the lower esophagus muscle, which permanently stops it from being able to spasm. In these cases, gravity will be the force to carry food and drink from your mouth to your stomach.
Effectiveness of SurgeryOne study on spasm symptom frequency and surgical intervention from France shows esophageal surgery for spasms is a highly effective method of treatment.Researchers found in a follow-up of 20 patients who underwent surgery for esophagus spasm treatment, all clinical outcomes were significantly improved compared with results from preoperative surveys or symptoms recorded before surgical intervention. The researchers note that one study limitation is it reports on frequency rather than intensity of symptoms.
Effectiveness of Surgery
One study on spasm symptom frequency and surgical intervention from France shows esophageal surgery for spasms is a highly effective method of treatment.Researchers found in a follow-up of 20 patients who underwent surgery for esophagus spasm treatment, all clinical outcomes were significantly improved compared with results from preoperative surveys or symptoms recorded before surgical intervention. The researchers note that one study limitation is it reports on frequency rather than intensity of symptoms.
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Summary
Esophageal spasms are abnormal spasms that occur in the tube connecting the mouth and stomach. Symptoms can come and go and range in severity. They include difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and feeling like something is squeezing your chest or that you have something stuck in your throat.
Severe chest pain, especially if lasting more than a few minutes, is cause for calling your healthcare provider or seeking immediate medical attention. When warranted, esophageal spasms can be treated if necessary with lifestyle modifications, medications, Botox injections, or, in severe cases, surgery.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Consumer Reports.When chest pain is an emergency and when it’s not.Loma Linda University.Esophageal spasms.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swallowing disorders: Introduction.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Smoking and the digestive tract.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Treatment for GER and GERD.Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.Antidepressants for functional esophagus disorders.Kumar D, Zifan A, Mittal RK.Botox injection into the lower esophageal sphincter induces hiatal paralysis and gastroesophageal reflux.Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2020;318(1):G77-G83. doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00238.2019Leconte M, Douard R, Gaudric M, Dumontier I, Chaussade S, Dousset B.Functional results after extended myotomy for diffuse oesophageal spasm.Br J Surg. 2007;94(9):1113-1118. doi:10.1002/bjs.5761
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Consumer Reports.When chest pain is an emergency and when it’s not.Loma Linda University.Esophageal spasms.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swallowing disorders: Introduction.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Smoking and the digestive tract.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Treatment for GER and GERD.Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.Antidepressants for functional esophagus disorders.Kumar D, Zifan A, Mittal RK.Botox injection into the lower esophageal sphincter induces hiatal paralysis and gastroesophageal reflux.Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2020;318(1):G77-G83. doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00238.2019Leconte M, Douard R, Gaudric M, Dumontier I, Chaussade S, Dousset B.Functional results after extended myotomy for diffuse oesophageal spasm.Br J Surg. 2007;94(9):1113-1118. doi:10.1002/bjs.5761
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Consumer Reports.When chest pain is an emergency and when it’s not.Loma Linda University.Esophageal spasms.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swallowing disorders: Introduction.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Smoking and the digestive tract.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Treatment for GER and GERD.Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.Antidepressants for functional esophagus disorders.Kumar D, Zifan A, Mittal RK.Botox injection into the lower esophageal sphincter induces hiatal paralysis and gastroesophageal reflux.Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2020;318(1):G77-G83. doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00238.2019Leconte M, Douard R, Gaudric M, Dumontier I, Chaussade S, Dousset B.Functional results after extended myotomy for diffuse oesophageal spasm.Br J Surg. 2007;94(9):1113-1118. doi:10.1002/bjs.5761
Consumer Reports.When chest pain is an emergency and when it’s not.
Loma Linda University.Esophageal spasms.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swallowing disorders: Introduction.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Smoking and the digestive tract.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Treatment for GER and GERD.
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.Antidepressants for functional esophagus disorders.
Kumar D, Zifan A, Mittal RK.Botox injection into the lower esophageal sphincter induces hiatal paralysis and gastroesophageal reflux.Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2020;318(1):G77-G83. doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00238.2019
Leconte M, Douard R, Gaudric M, Dumontier I, Chaussade S, Dousset B.Functional results after extended myotomy for diffuse oesophageal spasm.Br J Surg. 2007;94(9):1113-1118. doi:10.1002/bjs.5761
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