Show Emotional Spasms Prevent Swallowing S' Some years ago I spoke about a middle-aged middle woman who had suffered suffered suffered suf suf- for years with an arthritis that kept her almost bedridden She began began began be be- gan to complain that her food stuck half way down the he esophagus the I tube carrying the food to the stomach stomach stomach ach she was sure that a growth was blocking the tube Her physician physician physician cian pointed out that if there was a growth or obstruction present it would block the food every time she ate solid food whereas there were times when she ate solid food without without without with with- out feeling any blo block k in the tube In order to convince her he took her herto herto I to the X-ray X department of a large hospital and by the aid of a fluoroscope fluoroscope j scope and mirror she was able to I see food pass directly from throat down the tube to the stomach without without without with with- I out any delay whatever There was no question but that she felt the delay must have been present at times but only because there was a spasm of ot the tube not any real obstruction present The cause of the spasm was emotional In Radiology Drs W. W B. B Faulkner Faulkner Faulk Faulk- ner F. F H. H and John R. R ONeill O'Neill show that emotional upset- upset ments may produce a disturbance in the esophagus which can be discovered discovered discovered dis dis- dis- dis covered by the X-rays X and by the use of the instrument instrument ment merit showing condition of esophagus esophagus gus They noticed this first in a aroutine aroutine routine fluoroscopic examination examination examination nation of patient with a severe spasm of esophagus The spasm clearly seen disappeared when a chance statement was made that pleased the patient while a statement statement statement state state- ment that displeased the patient brought on the spasm again It can thus be seen that if a barium barium barium bari bari- um meal is given when the patient is upset or nervous a spasm may Y occur occur oc oc- cur which c causes aisles a blocked feeling feel feel- ing whereas if pa patient is relaxed there will be no blocked feeling |