What is a major symptom associated with diffuse esophageal spasm?

Diffuse esophageal spasm is characterized by intermittent contractions of varying amplitude in the esophagus, leading to significant difficulty in swallowing, or dysphagia. Patients typically present with episodes of chest pain, often mistaken for cardiac pain, as well as severe dysphagia. This symptom occurs because the abnormal contractions can disrupt the normal movement of food down the esophagus, causing pain and difficulty in swallowing solid and sometimes liquid foods.

While persistent vomiting and heartburn can occur in various esophageal disorders, they are not primary symptoms of diffuse esophageal spasm specifically. Similarly, weight loss may result from severe dysphagia over time due to inadequate food intake, but it is not a direct symptom of the spasm itself. Therefore, severe dysphagia is the most prominent and defining symptom associated with diffuse esophageal spasm.