Swallowing Difficulty

The esophagus is a muscular tube, and it needs to have a normal downward squeezing motion named peristalsis in order to move your food downward. Since you are having difficulty swallowing both solids and liquids, it is likely that the pattern of motion in your esophagus has become abnormal.

Consider these two situations:

- My swallowing symptoms occur intermittently (sometimes). They can be bad on some days and improved on other days.

- Swallowing is always difficult for me, and my problem has been getting steadily worse.

How would you describe the pattern of your swallowing problem over time?

My swallowing symptoms occur sometimes.

Swallowing is always difficult and is getting worse.