What does dysphagia mean and what causes it?

Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing, from dys meaning difficult and phagia meaning swallowing or eating. It can occur at any point from the mouth to the stomach. Oropharyngeal dysphagia involves difficulty initiating a swallow, common in stroke patients and neurological disorders. Esophageal dysphagia is a sensation of food sticking after swallowing, caused by strictures, tumors, or motility disorders. Related terms include odynophagia meaning painful swallowing, aphagia meaning inability to swallow, and polyphagia meaning excessive eating or hunger.