Hard to swallow

Q: I often feel like food and pills get stuck in my throat when I'm trying to swallow them. Do you have any information on what might be causing this? And is there anything I can do to prevent it?

Dr. Wright: You should certainly see a doctor to rule out other possibilities, but it sounds as though you may be experiencing something called an esophageal spasm. Esophageal spasms are exactly what they sound like—spasms of the esophagus that trap food or supplements and cause pain. These spasms are more common than many people realize. Fortunately, there's a simple and safe solution.

It's the same solution I recommend for other types of spasms: magnesium injections. Intravenous magnesium, given twice weekly for three to four weeks, almost always eliminates esophageal spasm entirely.

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