Odynophagia And Dysphagia: The Differences

The terms odynophagia and dysphagia are often confused. However, they refer to a different specific problem. 

Odynophagia and dysphagia are two terms that refer to a series of problems related to the ingestion of food. However, they should not be confused. The differences between these two terms are precisely the subject of this article.

Many people confuse the two terms. But here you will find that, despite their obvious relationship, these two terms refer to two different issues.

Odynophagia, what is it?

Let’s start by talking about odynophagia. As described very well in the Gastroesophageal reflux disease study  ,  this term refers to the pain that occurs when we swallow (solid food, liquids or saliva). Here are some of the characteristics of this condition:

• mild pain : under certain circumstances this pain may increase, but it is usually mild
• chronicity : in some cases the pain during swallowing becomes chronic, a symptom that may indicate the presence of a serious illness that needs to be treated
• synchronic contractions : the muscles in the area contract and cause pain

The causes behind odynophagia

Odynophagia is usually the result of a disease such as pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and a host of infections that can affect the throat area. Once the disease is treated, odynophagia disappears.

But this is not always the case: sometimes the pain when swallowing becomes chronic. This symptom may indicate the presence of a major problem, such as an ulcer, for example.

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned, before you worry perhaps unnecessarily, it is best to consult a doctor to dispel your doubts. You will be able, moreover, thanks to its intervention, to begin an appropriate treatment to solve your health problem.

Dyspaghia, what is it?

Now that you know a little more about odynophagia, it’s time to talk about dysphagia. This term does not refer to the pain felt when swallowing but to the difficulty in swallowing both solid foods and liquids.

Food does not reach the throat, it is impossible for them to cross this area. A person with dysphagia may even have difficulty chewing food and forming a “ball”.

Some symptoms of dysphagia are also those of odynophagia:

• pain when swallowing (odynophagia) : this is the reason why food or liquids fail to follow their normal course
• hysterical lump sensation : this is one of the symptoms of anxiety and is characterized by the feeling of stiffness in the muscles of the throat, making the throat appear to be tightening
• hoarse voice : this symptom is caused by the contraction of the muscles in the area
• regurgitation : the inability to swallow causes food to return to the mouth without ever having crossed the throat

Causes of dysphagia

Some of the causes of dysphagia include achalasia (a rare disease that affects the esophagus), esophagitis which can be related to a food allergy, and the presence of a tumor in the area.

When you see a doctor about these symptoms, the doctor will check whether a possible foreign body is responsible for the dysphagia. Sometimes a piece of food stuck in the throat is the cause of this unpleasant problem.

Prevent odynophagia and dysphagia

Now that we’ve seen the differences between odynophagia and dysphagia, and know that odynophagia can be a symptom of dysphagia, it’s important to know how to prevent these conditions.

It is first of all recommended to chew food well and not to digest pieces that are too large, which make swallowing difficult. It is also necessary to acquire good habits in order to stay healthy and thus avoid pharyngitis or other infection causing the onset of this disease.

Finally, it is important to see a doctor regularly to check that everything is in order. Detecting an ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or cancer early on can help us avoid suffering from dysphagia or odynophagia for an extended period of time.