Eli5: What causes pain after swallowing wrong?

Question

Sometimes when I swallow it hits weird and hurts quite severely for a few moments (like 20 seconds) down in the chest area

Feels like my throat muscles and stomach flap are stepping on each other’s toes

Happens about 1-3 times a year I’d say.

I don’t think this is a medical advice question, I assume it happens to everyone

In: Biology

Answer 1

Oddly I get this maybe once a month when I’m drinking/chugging water. The first two gulps will feel fine, then the next gulp will have mild discomfort, then because I’ve never learned my lesson I’ll keep drinking, and the next gulp will **hurt**.