Do you have heartburn a lot? Is it tough to swallow? Does your stomach hurt? There might be something wrong with your esophagus.
Your esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Disorders affecting this important part of your digestive system are common. In fact, more than 15 million people in the U.S. have uncomfortable and often painful conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus or achalasia.
The good news? If an esophageal disorder is treated successfully, you may not experience any long-term damage. Sometimes you can manage your symptoms with over-the-counter medications and lifestyle changes. But if you’re still having symptoms, it’s time to get help from an expert team. At Cleveland Clinic, our skilled gastroenterologists work closely with other specialties to treat a variety of esophageal disorders quickly and thoroughly.
We focus on treating your specific condition and designing a comprehensive, personalized care plan. Our experienced providers treat nearly 2,000 people with esophageal disorders each year, so you can be confident you’ll get expert care. Meet our team.
Our team of specialists includes radiologists, pathologists, thoracic surgeons, otolaryngologists (ear nose and throat doctors) and swallowing therapists. These experts work alongside gastroenterologists who have a special interest, expertise and experience in treating esophageal disorders.
If getting to your provider’s office is tough, you might be able to have a virtual visit for some appointments. You’ll get the same great care but from the comfort and convenience of home.
Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We’re recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.
If you have an esophageal disorder, you may start noticing symptoms like food sticking in your throat, pain in your chest, heartburn and difficulty swallowing. These things can point to many conditions, so it’s important to figure out what’s going on. Our team will work towards a diagnosis, then find the right treatment for you.
If you’re having a swallowing issue that begins in your mouth (trouble starting the swallow or coughing because food is going down your windpipe), we can direct you to our expert otolaryngologists.
There are many kinds of esophageal disorders — and part of what we do during the diagnosis process is figure out what type you have. The most common esophageal disorders include:
At your first appointment, we’ll start off with a conversation. We’ll ask how you’re feeling, what kinds of symptoms you have, when you first noticed them and how they’re affecting your daily life. It’s also a chance for you to get to know your provider.
Next, you may have a few tests, like:
At Cleveland Clinic, you’ll get the expertise of providers who work together to give you the best possible care. Your team could include:
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.
You may feel overwhelmed by all the treatments available to you. But your care team will guide you towards the best option — whether that’s learning physical techniques to improve swallowing, taking medications or maybe even surgery.
Sometimes, medications can help with esophageal disorders. Your provider might recommend:
Other times, surgery, including minimally invasive procedures, may be better:
If you think you might have an esophageal disorder, the first step is to get a firm diagnosis. Then your experienced and dedicated Cleveland Clinic care team will create a customized treatment plan specific to your needs and goals. And we’ll continue to care for you on an ongoing basis to adjust treatment as needed.
If you’re having trouble swallowing or have heartburn, you may think it’s a temporary issue. But if your symptoms are persistent or getting worse, it’s time to act. And at Cleveland Clinic, we’re ready to help you determine the cause of any pain and discomfort with our dedicated team of esophageal disorder experts — and then provide you with the treatment you need to help you get back to being yourself.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic’s esophageal disorders experts is easy. We’ll help you get the care you need.
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