When I am eating my food struck in neck what reason

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food stuck in throat neck while eating causes dysphagia

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Here is a thorough explanation of why food gets stuck in the throat/neck when eating:

Why Food Gets Stuck in Your Throat (Neck) While Eating

The medical term for this is dysphagia - difficulty swallowing. It can happen for many reasons, broadly grouped into two types.

Type 1: Oropharyngeal Dysphagia (Problem in the Mouth/Throat)

This is when you feel food catching in the neck right when you try to swallow. Causes include:

Nerve & Muscle Problems (most common)

Stroke - damages brain signals that control swallowing muscles
Parkinson's disease - slows and weakens swallowing muscles
Cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis - nervous system damage
Myasthenia gravis - muscle weakness disorder
Polymyositis / dermatomyositis - muscle inflammation

Local Structural Problems

Zenker's diverticulum - a small pouch that forms in the throat wall, trapping food
Cricopharyngeal bar - the throat muscle (cricopharyngeus) is too tight and does not relax properly when you swallow
Pharyngitis / tonsil abscess - throat swelling blocks the passage
Cervical osteophytes - bone spurs from the neck spine pressing on the throat
Cancer of the tongue, pharynx, or larynx
Thyroid gland enlargement pressing from outside

Lubrication problem

Dry mouth (xerostomia) - insufficient saliva to move food smoothly

Type 2: Esophageal Dysphagia (Problem in the Food Pipe)

You feel food stuck lower down (chest/neck area) after the swallow is started. Causes:

Narrowing / Blockage (Mechanical)

Schatzki ring - a small ring of tissue at the bottom of the esophagus, very common cause of solid food getting stuck
Peptic esophageal stricture - scarring from long-term acid reflux (GERD) narrowing the tube
Esophageal cancer - progressive difficulty, first with solids then liquids
Esophageal webs - thin membranes partially blocking the tube
Foreign body - a bone or large piece of food already partially lodged
Thyroid or lymph node enlargement pressing from outside

Motility / Movement Disorders

Achalasia - the lower esophagus fails to relax; food piles up
Diffuse esophageal spasm - painful, uncoordinated muscle contractions
Nutcracker esophagus - extremely forceful but disorganized contractions
Scleroderma - autoimmune disease that replaces esophageal muscle with scar tissue

Inflammation

GERD (acid reflux) - most common cause overall; acid irritates and eventually scars the esophagus
Eosinophilic esophagitis - immune reaction causing a very narrow, ringed esophagus; common in younger people with allergies
Pill esophagitis - some medicines (e.g., certain antibiotics, bisphosphonates) cause direct damage if swallowed without enough water

A Simple Way to Tell the Difference

Feature	Throat Problem	Esophageal Problem
Where you feel it	Neck, behind the Adam's apple	Chest, below the collarbone
When it occurs	Immediately when you try to swallow	A few seconds after swallowing starts
Other symptoms	Coughing, choking, drooling, food going up nose	Retrosternal fullness, heartburn
Only solids?	Sometimes	Solids only = blockage; Solids + liquids = motility

Common everyday reasons (not serious)

Eating too fast without chewing properly
Dry food without enough liquid (dry bread, crackers)
Not drinking enough water during the meal
Anxiety or stress (globus sensation - feeling of a lump in the throat even without food)

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor if food getting stuck happens:

Regularly (more than a few times a week)
Is getting progressively worse
Is associated with weight loss, pain, or vomiting
You also feel it with liquids
You are over 50 years old (higher risk of cancer or motility disorders)

A doctor can diagnose the exact cause with an endoscopy (camera down the throat), barium swallow X-ray, or esophageal manometry (pressure test).

Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine, p. 542 (Table 77-1, Causes of Dysphagia)
Cummings Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (Dysphagia section)

What to do for that

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Here is a complete guide on what to do when food gets stuck in your throat:

What To Do When Food Gets Stuck in Your Throat

STEP 1: Right Now - If Food Is Stuck At This Moment

If you can breathe normally (food is in the food pipe/esophagus, NOT the airway):

Drink water - take a few big sips; it can wash the food down
Drink a fizzy drink (soda/sparkling water) - the gas bubbles create pressure that can dislodge stuck food
Alka-Seltzer dissolved in water can also help break down the food
Eat a soft piece of bread - it can push the food down gently
Stay calm and upright - do not lie down

Important: Do NOT try the Heimlich maneuver on yourself. That is only for choking (food in the airway). If food is stuck in the esophagus (food pipe), the Heimlich will not help.

Go to the Emergency Room immediately if:

You cannot swallow your own saliva
You have chest pain or severe discomfort
You are drooling uncontrollably
You feel like you cannot breathe
The food does not pass after 30-60 minutes

At the ER, doctors can use an endoscope (a thin camera tube) to gently remove or push down the stuck food.

STEP 2: Short-Term Eating Changes (Do These Now)

While waiting for a doctor's appointment:

What to Do	Why It Helps
Chew food very thoroughly	Small pieces pass more easily
Eat slowly, take small bites	Reduces bolus size
Drink water with every few bites	Keeps the food pipe moist
Avoid dry, hard foods (dry bread, crackers, tough meat, rice)	These are most likely to get stuck
Cut meat and vegetables into small pieces	Easier to swallow
Avoid eating while distracted or rushing	Prevents gulping large pieces
Sit upright while eating	Gravity helps food move down

STEP 3: Medical Treatments (Based on the Cause)

The treatment depends on what is causing the food to get stuck:

If the cause is Acid Reflux / GERD (narrowing from acid damage)

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole - reduce acid and allow the esophagus to heal
Lifestyle changes: avoid spicy/fatty food, do not eat 2-3 hours before lying down, elevate your head while sleeping
Endoscopic dilation - a doctor stretches the narrowed part using a balloon or dilator

If the cause is Schatzki Ring (a small ring in the lower esophagus)

Endoscopic dilation - very effective, often one procedure is enough
Acid suppression medicine to prevent recurrence

If the cause is Eosinophilic Esophagitis (immune/allergic inflammation)

Eliminate trigger foods (milk, wheat, eggs, soy, nuts, seafood are common triggers)
Swallowed topical steroids (fluticasone or budesonide inhaler - swallowed, not inhaled)
Proton pump inhibitors
Endoscopic dilation if the esophagus is very narrow

If the cause is Achalasia (muscle of lower esophagus does not relax)

Botox injection into the lower esophageal sphincter muscle (temporary, lasts ~6 months)
Pneumatic dilation (balloon stretching) - 70-90% success rate
Heller myotomy surgery - cutting the tight muscle; highly effective
Per-Oral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) - newer, less invasive surgical option

If the cause is Esophageal Spasm

Calcium channel blockers (e.g., nifedipine, diltiazem) - relax the spasming muscle
Nitrates - also relax smooth muscle
Botox injections into the esophagus
Smooth muscle relaxants (anticholinergics)

If the cause is Neurological (stroke, Parkinson's, etc.)

Speech therapy / swallowing therapy with a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
Swallowing exercises to strengthen throat muscles
Dietary texture modification - soft foods, thickened liquids as recommended
Treat the underlying neurological condition

If the cause is Cancer or Tumor

Requires specialist treatment: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or stenting (a tube to keep the esophagus open)

STEP 4: See a Doctor For These Tests

A doctor will figure out the exact cause and treat it properly. Tests they may order:

Endoscopy - camera examination; can also treat (dilate, remove stuck food)
Barium swallow X-ray - shows narrowing, rings, pouches
Esophageal manometry - measures pressure and muscle function
CT scan - checks for tumors or external compression

When to See a Doctor Urgently (Do Not Wait)

Food gets stuck every time or most meals
It is getting worse over time
You have lost weight without trying
You also have pain while swallowing
You are over 50 years old
Food now also gets stuck with liquids

Bottom line: Occasional food sticking after eating too fast is normal. But if it keeps happening, it almost always has a treatable cause. A simple endoscopy can both diagnose and often treat the problem in the same procedure.

K.J. Lee's Essential Otolaryngology (Dysphagia section, p. 945)
Goldman-Cecil Medicine (Esophageal disease treatment)
Cleveland Clinic - Dysphagia

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