- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Childhood Brain Tumors
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
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- Diabetic Diet
- Diabetic Eye Problems
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- Diabetic Heart Disease
- Diabetic Kidney Problems
- Diabetic Nerve Problems
- How to Prevent Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Abortion
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Diseases
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
- Childbirth
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
- Hysterectomy
- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
- Period Pain
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
- Pregnancy and Opioids
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Stillbirth
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Diseases
- Uterine Fibroids
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal Diseases
- Vaginitis
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vulvar Disorders
- Yeast Infections
- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
- Chiari Malformation
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Color Blindness
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Craniofacial Abnormalities
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Friedreich Ataxia
- Genetic Counseling
- Hemophilia
- Huntington’s Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Muscular Dystrophy
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- Neurofibromatosis
- Newborn Screening
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
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- Pregnancy and Medicines
- Rett Syndrome
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Spina Bifida
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- Tay-Sachs Disease
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- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Allergy
- Animal Bites
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- Asthma
- Asthma in Children
- Childhood Leukemia
- Childhood Vaccines
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Eosinophilic Disorders
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Hay Fever
- HIV
- HIV and Infections
- HIV in Women
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Infectious Diseases
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Juvenile Arthritis
- Kawasaki Disease
- Lymphedema
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Pemphigus
- Pneumocystis Infections
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Tonsillitis
- Vaccines
- Viral Infections
- Adhesions
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
- Arm Injuries and Disorders
- Back Injuries
- Brachial Plexus Injuries
- Burns
- Chest Injuries and Disorders
- Concussion
- CPR
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dislocations
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders
- Eye Injuries
- Facial Injuries and Disorders
- Finger Injuries and Disorders
- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
- Hand Injuries and Disorders
- Heel Injuries and Disorders
- Hip Injuries and Disorders
- Inhalation Injuries
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Jaw Injuries and Disorders
- Knee Injuries and Disorders
- Leg Injuries and Disorders
- Mosquito Bites
- Neck Injuries and Disorders
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Sprains and Strains
- Tick Bites
- Toe Injuries and Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Wrist Injuries and Disorders
- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
- Croup
- E-Cigarettes
- Fistulas
- Flu
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
- H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
- Legionnaires’ Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
- Sleep Apnea
- Smoking
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping Cough
- Anatomy
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Birth Control
- Chlamydia Infections
- Circumcision
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes Simplex
- Infertility
- Male Infertility
- Penis Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
- Reproductive Hazards
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Problems in Men
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Syphilis
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Disorders
- Vasectomy
- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
- Choking
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Esophagus Disorders
Summary
The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to the stomach. You may not be aware of your esophagus until you swallow something too large, too hot, or too cold. You may also notice it when something is wrong. You may feel pain or have trouble swallowing.
The most common problem with the esophagus is GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). With GERD, a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it. Over time, GERD can cause damage to the esophagus.
Other problems include heartburn, cancer, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Doctors may use various tests to make a diagnosis. These include imaging tests, an upper endoscopy, and a biopsy.
Treatment depends on the problem. Some problems get better with over-the-counter medicines or changes in diet. Others may need prescription medicines or surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Patient Handouts
- Achalasia Medical Encyclopedia
- Barrett esophagus Medical Encyclopedia
- Bleeding esophageal varices Medical Encyclopedia
- Diet and eating after esophagectomy Medical Encyclopedia
- EGD discharge Medical Encyclopedia
- Esophageal atresia Medical Encyclopedia
- Esophageal manometry Medical Encyclopedia
- Esophageal perforation Medical Encyclopedia
- Esophageal spasm Medical Encyclopedia
- Esophageal stricture – benign Medical Encyclopedia
- Esophagitis Medical Encyclopedia
- Esophagitis – infectious Medical Encyclopedia
- Lower esophageal ring (Schatzki) Medical Encyclopedia
- Mallory-Weiss tear Medical Encyclopedia
- Swallowing problems Medical Encyclopedia
- Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair Medical Encyclopedia
- Upper GI and small bowel series Medical Encyclopedia
Treatments and Therapies
- Achalasia – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
Specifics
- Achalasia and Esophageal Motility Disorders Society of Thoracic Surgeons
- Barrett’s Esophagus National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Bile Reflux Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Esophageal Spasms Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Esophageal Varices Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- GERD: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
Find an Expert
- American College of Gastroenterology American College of Gastroenterology
- ASGE: Find a Doctor American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- Find a Gastroenterologist American College of Gastroenterology
- Find a SAGES Surgeon Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
- Find an ENT American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Diagnosis and Tests
- Barium Swallow National Library of Medicine
- Esophageal pH Test National Library of Medicine
- Understanding Esophageal Dilation American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- Understanding Esophageal Manometry American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Series National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Upper GI Endoscopy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- X-Ray Exam: Neck Nemours Foundation
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Barrett Esophagus National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Achalasia National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal Diseases National Institutes of Health
Children
- Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula American Academy of Family Physicians
- Reflux in Children: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Reflux in Infants: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Tracheoesophageal fistula repair – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
Genetics
- Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Triple A syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Encyclopedia
- Esophageal culture Medical Encyclopedia
- Esophageal pH monitoring Medical Encyclopedia
- Esophagectomy – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
- Flushable reagent stool blood test Medical Encyclopedia
Related Issues
- Globus International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
Start Here
- Overview of the Esophagus Merck & Co., Inc.
Journal Articles
Reference Desk
- Your Digestive System and How It Works National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases