By Mary Anne Muldowney, RN, BSN
Believe it or not, the seasons can affect the ability of some people to swallow food, and summertime is one of the worst. Caregivers at Cayuga Medical Center have treated several Emergency Department patients this summer with food stuck in the esophagus (swallowing tube). They had attempted to swallow food particles that were simply too large to pass down into their stomachs. Left untreated, food stuck in the esophagus can lead to serious injury.