Warning Signs Of Esophageal Achalasia

Coughing

Although coughing alone is not a clear indicator that an individual has achalasia, some patients may experience more coughing than usual, especially when lying down horizontally. Food that becomes lodged or stuck in the lower esophagus may cause coughing as the body is trying to expel the food and remove it either through regurgitation or swallowing, as it may be blocking part of the patient’s airway. An individual may also cough or gag when they are trying to swallow foods or beverages due to the nerves and muscles in the esophagus not working properly. If a patient experiences a chronic cough and no treatments are able to help them overcome it and a doctor has ruled out GERD, a persistent cough, especially whenever a patient is eating, should be considered another sign of esophageal achalasia.

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Pulmonary Aspiration

Pulmonary aspiration is another sign that the patient could have esophageal achalasia, and is when foods, drinks, or other materials from the gastrointestinal tract enter the larynx or voice box and lower respiratory tract. Pulmonary aspiration that occurs when a person is eating or drinking is often called “going down the wrong pipe.” Pulmonary aspiration is generally a risk or complication of esophageal achalasia, as the decrease in the functioning of the upper and lower esophageal sphincter creates issues with the esophagus passing food easily to the stomach, but rather can causes substances to become lodged in the lungs and obstruct a person’s airways. The body naturally tries to prevent this condition from happening with certain reflexes, such as swallowing and coughing, and if an individual has difficulty with both, such as with esophageal achalasia, the risk of them developing pulmonary aspiration increases.

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