What are odynophagia and dysphagia?

Dysphagia is a medical term that describes difficulty swallowing. It can feel like you have something stuck in your throat or chest that is preventing you from swallowing correctly.
There are two types of dysphagia:
- Esophageal dysphagia – the sensation that you have food stuck in your throat or chest after you begin to swallow
- Oropharyngeal dysphagia – difficulty with the act of swallowing
Odynophagia is a medical term that describes pain with swallowing. When you swallow, you may feel pain or a burning sensation in your throat or breastbone. It may present as chest tightness or heaviness.
When discerning between odynophagia and dysphagia, you should know that either of these sensations may occur when food first enters your throat from your mouth, or as it passes further down in your esophageal tract.
Symptoms of odynophagia and dysphagia
Since different medical conditions can contribute to each of these sensations, your symptoms will vary based on what’s causing the disorder. If you feel pain or discomfort when swallowing that isn’t going away, talk to your doctor.
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing may be accompanied by:
- Food getting stuck in your throat or chest
- Food and drink entering your nose or airways
- Frequent regurgitation
- Choking or coughing while eating and drinking
- Your voice becoming hoarse
Odynophagia
Pain when swallowing may be accompanied by:
- Heaviness in your chest
- Burning sensations
- Pressure when swallowing
- Feeling like food is stuck in your throat or chest
Causes of odynophagia and dysphagia
Causes of dysphagia may include:
- Compression from tumor growth in your chest
- Structural damage to nerves
- Muscles that are weak or stretched out
Causes of odynophagia may include:
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Thrush
- Inflammation
- Achalasia
- Esophageal spasms
- Reflux
- Ulcers
Stages of odynophagia and dysphagia
Dysphagia has two stages:
- Oropharyngeal stage – this stage affects the muscles in the tongue that contract to trigger the swallowing reflex
- Esophageal stage – this stage affects the ability of esophageal muscles to relax as food is pushed into the stomach for digestion
While dysphagia is a condition of its own, odynophagia is considered a symptom of a more serious condition. Similar to dysphagia, it can occur in your throat where swallowing begins, or in your chest as food moves toward the stomach.

QUESTION
Pancreatitis is inflammation of an organ in the abdomen called the pancreas. See AnswerDiagnosis of odynophagia and dysphagia
First, your doctor will ask about your symptoms to determine which condition you may have. They will complete a physical examination to look for redness and inflammation in your throat and feel for swelling.
Additional tests can provide your doctor with a better idea of the condition of your digestive tract:
- Upper endoscopy – this is a long tool with a camera and light that allows your doctor to see the path food follows into your stomach
- Esophagram – you will drink a substance including barium followed by an x-ray that shows how substances travel through your system
- Esophageal manometry – a pressure test to see how your muscles function during swallowing
- pH and impedance tests – to determine if there is reflux causing damage to your esophagus
- Swallow tests – allows your doctor to see how your body responds to various textures of food, drink, and even puffs of air
Health News
- CDC Warns of Potentially Fatal Bacterial Illness on U.S. Gulf Coast
- Helping Others as Volunteers Helps Kids 'Flourish': Study
- FDA Approves Pfizer's RSV Shot for Older Adults
- What to Do When Tough-to-Treat Lymphoma Strikes During Pregnancy
- Rate of Pregnant U.S. Women Who Have Diabetes Keeps Rising
More Health News »
Treatments of odynophagia and dysphagia
Lifestyle changes
Your doctor may suggest that you make adjustments to your diet to alleviate symptoms. This can include smaller bites of food, avoiding certain food and drinks, or chewing food longer before swallowing.
Therapy
A physical therapist can work with you on exercises to strengthen your face and neck muscles, improving your ability to swallow. This extends to techniques in how you swallow. For example, a “chin tuck” helps keep food out of your trachea.
Medication
If conditions like reflex are affecting your ability to swallow, your doctor may prescribe medicine to limit how much stomach acid you produce. Pain medication can also help with symptoms of discomfort, although you still need to address the condition that is causing you pain.
Surgery
In some cases, your doctor may need to perform surgery to fix damage or deformities in your digestive tract that affect swallowing. They may also need to remove tumors or cancer causing pressure on your chest and throat.
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Clinical Medicine: "Acute oesophageal symptoms."
Stanford Health Care: "Types of Urinary Tract Infections."
University of Florida Health: "Painful swallowing."
Yale Medicine: "Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing)."
Top Difference Between Odynophagia and Dysphagia Related Articles
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a change in the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Symptoms associated with diarrhea are cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency. Causes of diarrhea include viral, bacterial, or parasite infection, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and drugs. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.Diverticulitis (Diverticulosis)
Most people with diverticulosis have few if any symptoms at all. When people do experience signs and symptoms of diverticulosis (diverticular disease) they may include abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Diverticulitis is a condition in which diverticula in the colon rupture. The rupture results in infection in the tissues that surround the colon. Treatment methods for diverticulitis include prescription medications, and in some cases, diverticulitis surgery.Vitamins You Need as You Age
Your body needs more of certain vitamins and minerals as you hit your 40s and beyond. Find out which ones will benefit you -- and which won't.Intestinal Gas and Gas Pain
Intestinal gas and painful bloating are common. Learn about what causes gas pain and how eliminating certain foods from your diet can help relieve symptoms.mineral oil
Mineral oil is a liquid lubricant laxative available over the counter (OTC) taken orally to relieve occasional constipation. Common side effects of mineral oil include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fecal urgency, fecal incontinence, oily rectal discharge, anal irritation, itching, and hemorrhoids; intestinal malabsorption, impaired absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, low vitamin levels (hypovitaminosis), and lipid pneumonitis/pneumonia from aspiration. Do not take mineral oil if pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not administer to children under the age of 6.Swallowing Problems (Dysphagia)
Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, swallowing problems. Dysphagia is due to problems in nerve or muscle control. It is common, for example, after a stroke. Dysphagia compromises nutrition and hydration and may lead to aspiration pneumonia and dehydration.What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Dysphagia?
What is dysphagia, and how do you know if you have it? Learn the signs of dysphagia and when to see a doctor.