Occasional dysphagia is not usually a cause for concern and may simply result from eating too fast or not chewing food well enough. Not drinking enough water when eating or consuming food while lying down can also make swallowing difficult. However, chronic dysphagia can sometimes be a symptom of a health condition.

Dysphagia can occur at any age, but is more common in the elderly as a result of diseases that develop over a lifetime, such as neurological or esophageal disorders and teeth loss.

Common causes of dysphagia include foreign bodies (e.g., fish bones) that may become lodged in the throat while eating as well as allergies and certain infectious diseases (e.g., influenza, strep throat) that may result in a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. 

Prolonged exposure to outdoor air pollution can also cause ongoing throat irritation that can lead to dysphagia.  However, indoor pollution, such as cigarette smoke, is an even greater cause of chronic sore throat. Inhaling secondhand smoke is often just as damaging. In addition, smokeless tobacco, alcohol and spicy foods can also inflame the throat and lead to dysphagia.

Dysphagia can also be a symptom of various gastrointestinal disorders including:

• Ulcers, tumors and benign polyps. Abnormal growths in the mouth, tongue, throat or esophagus can make swallowing difficult or painful. Difficulty swallowing due to benign (noncancerous) polyps may occur if the polyps are large, but this is rare.
  

  

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A condition in which the contents of the stomach flow back (reflux) into the esophagus and damage its lining. Prolonged damage to the esophageal tissues from stomach acid backing up into the esophagus can lead to esophagitis, esophageal spasm or scarring and narrowing of the lower esophagus, making swallowing difficult.
  
  
• Motor esophageal disorders. Conditions that interfere with the normal muscle contractions of the esophagus (e.g., nutcracker syndrome and achalasia). These conditions generally result in difficulty swallowing both solid foods and liquids.
  
  
• Esophageal stricture. Swallowing may become difficult when the esophagus becomes narrowed or completely blocked due to the formation of scar tissue. Esophageal stricture can be caused by untreated GERD, radiation therapy, the prolonged use of certain medications (e.g., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics), esophageal ulcers or lower esophageal ring.
  
  
• Hiatal hernia. An abnormal protrusion of a portion of the stomach into the chest cavity. In rare cases, twisted or large hernias may cause difficulty swallowing.
  

  

• Esophageal webs. Thin sheets of tissue (webs) that may form across the interior of the esophagus, partially blocking it. These webs typically cause difficulty swallowing solid foods, rather than liquids, and are more common among the elderly. Sometimes, a person may be born with esophageal webs and not experience any symptoms until later in life. Although rare, esophageal webs may be associated with iron deficiency (anemia).
  
  
• Zenker's diverticulum. The formation of small pouches that collect food particles just above the esophagus can lead to difficulty swallowing, gurgling sounds, bad breath and coughing. This condition is more common in patients over age 50.

Patients with neurological or nervous system disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (a degenerative condition marked by muscular weakness and loss of coordination and speech) and diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage that results from diabetes), are also more likely to experience difficulty swallowing because of problems controlling the muscle movements that allow food to move from the mouth to the stomach.

Dysphagia may also occur after a sudden neurological trauma, including a stroke or a head or spinal cord injury. Research indicates that there is an association between dysphagia and increased morbidity and mortality after a stroke.

Babies who are born prematurely are also more prone to developmental problems, including neurological or gastrointestinal disorders and birth defects (e.g., cleft palate) that may cause dysphagia.  

In addition, conditions that affect nearby organs may also put pressure on and/or block the esophagus and cause patients to experience dysphagia. For instance, a heart disorder may cause part of the aorta (the body’s main artery) or heart to enlarge and press on the esophagus. An aortic aneurysm (enlargement of part of the aorta), enlargement of the thyroid gland (a gland located at the base of the neck that helps regulate growth and metabolism), or excessive growth of bones in the spinal cord (e.g., cervical spine disease) can also put pressure on the esophagus.