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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffYour esophagus is a long tube-like structure that connects your throat to your stomach. A healthy esophagus moves food into your stomach through a series of coordinated muscular contractions, called peristalsis. Esophageal spasms disrupt this process.
The exact cause of esophageal spasms is unknown. Some possibilities include:
- Extremely hot or extremely cold foods, although how these foods may trigger the spasms is unclear
- Gastroesophageal disease (GERD) or heartburn, conditions affecting the esophagus and which may trigger spasms
