- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Regurgitation of food
- Weight loss
- Chest discomfort/pain
With strictures, you may find yourself chewing longer, needing to wash food down with water or other liquids and even taking smaller bites of food to help it pass through the esophagus. Some people with strictures begin to eat less because of pain when swallowing. This can lead to weight loss. When food gets stuck in your esophagus from a severe stricture and is vomited back up, you may need immediate treatment.
Doctors can diagnose strictures with a barium esophagram. The barium esophagram outlines the size and location of the stricture or strictures in your esophagus. Your doctor may also perform an
endoscopy
to visually evaluate the situation in your esophagus visually.