Symptoms

Symptoms of Spastic Esophageal Motility Disorder

Ordinarily, the esophagus moves food to the stomach through a process called peristalsis (a rhythmic, wavelike motion). In an esophageal motility disorder, the contractions of the esophagus are irregular and uncoordinated. Those spastic movements cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• Odynophagia (pain with swallowing)
• Heartburn (acid indigestion)
• Food gets stuck in the throat
• Regurgitation (the return of partially digested food from the stomach to the mouth)
• Strong, squeezing sensation in the chest, radiating to the arms, back, neck or jaw
  • NOTE: This is also a symptom of a heart attack. If you are experiencing this symptom, seek emergency help.