Health Topic

Esophagus Disorders

You esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagus problems include GERD (reflux), cancer, esophagitis, and spasms. Learn about symptoms and treatments.

Reviewed Reviewed by a registered pharmacistGeneral information

Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

About Esophagus Disorders

Esophagus disorders are problems with how your esophagus works. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. You usually don't notice it unless you swallow something too big, hot, or cold. You might also notice it if something is wrong. When that happens, you might feel pain or have trouble swallowing (dysphagia).

The cause depends on the type of disorder. Some run in families. Others are linked to allergic reactions to food or substances in your environment. Sometimes, the cause is unknown.

You may be more likely to develop an esophagus disorder if you:

  • Are overweight or have obesity
  • Are pregnant
  • Take certain medicines
  • Have had radiation treatmentt to your neck or chest
  • Smoke or are around secondhand smoke

The most common esophagus problem is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This happens when the muscle at the bottom of your esophagus doesn't close properly. Stomach acid can move back up and irritate the esophagus.

Other esophagus disorders include:

  • Heartburn is a burning feeling in your chest or throat. It is often caused by acid reflux.
  • Barrett's Esophagus happens when the lining of your esophagus changes. It is often caused by chronic (long-term) GERD.
  • Achalasia is a problem where the lower muscle in your esophagus doesn't relax like it should.
  • Esophageal Spasms are muscle contractions that cause chest pain or swallowing problems.
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a rare condition where certain white blood cells (eosinophils) build up in the esophagus, causing swelling, pain, and trouble swallowing.
  • Esophageal Cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the tissues of the esophagus.

Symptoms can be different for each condition but may include:

  • Pain in your chest, abdomen (belly), or back
  • A cough or sore throat that doesn't go away
  • Trouble swallowing or feeling like food is stuck
  • A hoarse voice or wheezing
  • Heartburn or a burning feeling in your stomach
  • Tasting acid or food in the back of your mouth
  • Food or liquid coming back up into your mouth (regurgitation)
  • Losing weight without trying

Get medical help right away if you have chest pain with shortness of breath, or pain in your jaw or arm. These could be signs of a heart problem.

Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They may order one or more tests, such as:

  • Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. This test uses a tiny camera to look inside your esophagus and stomach.
  • Biopsy. This test takes a small tissue sample to check.
  • Barium swallow. This test uses imaging to see how you swallow.
  • Esophageal manometry. This test checks how well your esophagus moves food to your stomach.
  • Esophageal pH test. This test measures how often acid backs up into your esophagus and how long the acid stays there.

Treatment depends on what's causing the problem and your overall health. Some esophagus disorders get better with over-the-counter medicines, diet changes, or lifestyle changes. Others may need prescription medicine or surgery.

Without treatment, some disorders may lead to other problems, such as pneumonia, from food entering the windpipe. GERD, Barrett's esophagus, and achalasia can also raise your risk for esophageal cancer.

You can help prevent or reduce symptoms by:

  • Not smoking and limiting alcohol
  • Eating smaller meals
  • Avoiding eating close to bedtime
  • Wearing loose-fitting clothes
  • Sleeping on your left side or raising the head of your bed
  • Maintaining a healthy weight

It sits within Digestive System and Ear, Nose and Throat.

The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.

Research on Esophagus Disorders

5,189 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.

What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.

Research currently under way

Research already completed

Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.

Where to read more

Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.

Start Here

Diagnosis and Tests

Treatments and Therapies

Prevention and Risk Factors

Related Issues

  • GlobusInternational Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Genetics

Clinical Trials

Medical subject headings

Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Esophageal Diseases. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.

This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Esophagus Disorders, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.