The Throat Pocket That Traps Food

A Zenker's diverticulum is a pouch that forms in your throat, acting like a trap for food you swallow. Instead of passing down into the stomach, bits of food get stuck in this pocket, often causing bad breath and choking.

This condition occurs when the lining of the throat pushes through a weak spot in the muscle wall. It is essentially a false pouch created by the pressure of swallowing over many years. Because food can linger there for days, it may ferment, leading to a foul odor that patients struggle to explain. While it sounds frightening, surgeons can often repair the area to restore normal swallowing.