Those spasms are controlled by a neural reflex arc involving the brainstem, phrenic nerve, and vagus nerve—the same vagus nerve that travels down into the chest and wraps around the esophagus. The ...

“Oesophageal spasm can last for some time and be very distressing,” he writes from personal experience. “I find it can usually be fixed with a slug of schnapps. Vodka is good but I imagine a ...

Chronic lung diseases: Conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can also cause bronchial spasms. Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Acid reflux can irritate the ...