system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Sometimes when I'm drinking a beverage a swallow is painful, almost like the liquid has turned solid and getting stuck in my throat. What gives?
gpt
There's a pocket of air caught in your esophagus, which creates an outward pressure and makes it hard to swallow. You can force it down (you won't do any real damage), or open your mouth and let the pressure balance out before swallowing.