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- The esophagus is the tube in the chest that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The muscles in the esophagus can spasm. When this occurs, it mimics a heart attack and can be very painful.
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- Difficulty swallowing solids and liquids
- Hot or cold liquids may cause spasms
- Chest pain (that is not related to physical exertion)
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- Barium esophagography may show contractions in a "corkscrew" or "rosary bead" appearance
- Esophageal manometry -- measures esophageal pressures
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- Reassurance of benign nature of this disease
- Nitrates
- Calcium channel blockers
- Esophageal dilation in severe cases
- Surgical treatment if there is severe discomfort and all other treatments fail
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