Difficulty swallowing food or liquid needs assessment by a doctor.  Most cases are not serious, especially when it is intermittent and where you have not had to modify what you eat.  However, if it is persistent and worsening and associated with weight loss then it needs urgent assessment.

Some people become aware of a sensation of a “lump in the throat”, which does not  actually cause problems swallowing food.  We call this “globus” and it requires no treatment.  Sometimes this is a feature of acid reflux.

If you have a swallowing problem consultants can look at your throat with a fibreoptic telescope in the clinic.  This tiny tube passes through your nose, is not painful and only takes about 30 seconds to perform.