What is Esophageal spasms?

These are abnormal, sudden, and painful contractions of the esophagus muscles, which is the organ responsible for carrying food from the mouth to the stomach. Pain and discomfort can be felt in the chest, which suggests that it is often due to a heart condition.

Esophageal spasms usually occur sporadically and may not require treatment. However, sometimes they can be so intense and frequent that they make it impossible for food and water to be digested, requiring immediate medical attention.

The origin of esophageal spasms is unknown, but experts and clinical studies suggest that very hot or very cold foods can favor their appearance, as well as a possible abnormality in the functioning of the nerves that control the muscles used when swallowing.

Esophageal spasms are classified as:

Distal.
Hypercontractile.

Signs and symptoms Esophageal spasms

Gastric acidity.
Severe pain in the chest or upper abdomen.
Problems digesting solid and liquid foods.
Regurgitation.
Feeling of having the throat stuck or of suffocation.

The symptoms may worsen during the day.

Esophageal spasms risks and complications:

Cancerous growths.
Esophageal damage due to persistent heartburn.
Brain damage from related injuries or stroke.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.

Diagnosis and treatment Esophageal spasms

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request the following tests:

Upper endoscopy.
Esophageal manometry.
Tissue biopsy.
X-rays.

Esophageal spasms treatment depends on their symptoms, frequency, and severity, so you may require:

Changes in diet and lifestyle.
Avoid extremely hot or cold foods.
Medicines to relax the muscles you use when swallowing.
Esophageal dilation.
Surgery (myotomy).

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

healthline.com
cigna.com
tmcaz.com
elsevier.es
mayoclinic.org
medlineplus.gov
msdmanuals.com
middlesexhealth.org
medigraphic.com
Labrada SM, Hernández MH, García AM, et al. Introducción de la técnica de Manometría esofágica de alta resolución. Rev Acta Médica. 2021;22(3):.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is Esophageal spasms?

Signs and symptoms Esophageal spasms

Diagnosis and treatment Esophageal spasms

Related centers and departments

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Esophageal spasms