Pain in the esophagus while eating | Esophagus – anatomy, function and diseases

Pain in the esophagus while eating

A distinction must be made between oesophageal pain caused by eating and the time at which the pain occurs. The pain of the entire esophagus can appear at any point between the upper neck and the lower sternum. If a stabbing pain occurs during swallowing, a narrowing of the esophagus is likely.

The food pulp is stopped at that point and causes a stabbing pain in the mucous membrane and the esophagus. If the pain does not appear until a few minutes after eating, it is most likely an acid-induced pain. Typical is a burning sensation behind the breastbone. The best therapy for acid-induced burning of the esophagus is a change in diet and some lifestyle habits. Severe long-term complications can occur if the annoying burning is ignored.

Pain of the esophagus after vomiting

After vomiting, many people experience pain in the esophagus. This is also due to stomach acid, which attacks the mucous membrane cells of the esophagus. During vomiting, a strong contraction of the stomach muscles causes the entire stomach contents to be expelled.

The stomach contents consist of the chyme that has mixed with gastric acid in the stomach. The vomiting causes the gastric acid to spread over the entire mucous membrane of the esophagus and can lead to a burning pain similar to heartburn. A single vomiting does not involve long-term risks and does not usually damage the esophagus.

Caution is required, however, in cases of frequent vomiting, for example in the context of bulimia or alcohol abuse. Even regular vomiting once every two weeks can be harmful. In contrast to heartburn, much larger quantities of gastric acid are transported from the stomach.

The mucous membrane cells of the esophagus are not able to fend off the gastric acid and this leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane and, in the long term, to transformation of the cells. This is already an irreversible damage. Immediately after vomiting, teas or gentle foods can help to relieve the pain and remove the hydrochloric acid from the esophagus.