What may increase your risk for a problem after swallowing an object?
Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your doctor.
Conditions
- Age younger than 6 years
- Age older than 60 years
- Chewing or swallowing problems
- Eating disorders, such as bulimia
- Developmental disabilities
- Not having teeth, or wearing dentures
- A history of esophagus problems, such as:
- Abnormal muscle contraction (spasm) of the esophagus
- Narrowing of the esophagus (especially if the esophagus has required dilation in the past)
- Previous injury to or surgery of the esophagus
- A history of swallowing a foreign object (more common in small children, psychiatric patients, and prisoners)
- A history of radiation therapy to the head, neck, or chest
- History of stroke
- Being in jail or prison (incarceration)
- Mental retardation or another developmental delay
- Mental illness
- Pregnancy
- Previous surgery to remove the spleen
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
Medicines
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
- Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
- Radiation therapy
Diseases
- Cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus
- Diabetes
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- History of an esophageal disease, such as esophageal stricture or esophageal motility disorder
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: October 5, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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