Dysphagia – Difficulties in Swallowing

Dysphagia is the medical term for swallowing difficulties.

People with dysphagia either have problems swallowing certain foods or liquids, and some people cannot swallow at all.

Main signs of dysphagia include:

  • Coughing or choking when eating or drinking.
  • Sometimes bringing food or liquid back up through your nose.
  • A sensation that food is stuck in your throat or chest
  • Persistent drooling of saliva
  • Being unable to chew food properly

Over time, dysphagia can also cause symptoms such as weight loss and repeated chest infections.

You should see your Doctor if you, or someone you care for, have difficulty swallowing or any other signs of dysphagia so you can get treatment immediately.

Early investigation can also help to rule out other more serious conditions, such as oesophageal cancer.

Causes of dysphagia

Dysphagia is usually caused by another health condition, such as:

A condition that affects the nervous system, for example a stroke, a head injury, multiple sclerosis or dementia.

Cancers – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer.

And gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus.

One of the most common problems of Dysphagia is coughing or choking, when food goes down the “wrong way” and blocks your airway. This can lead to chest infections, such as aspiration pneumonia, which requires urgent medical treatment.

Aspiration pneumonia can develop after accidentally inhaling something, such as a small piece of food.

Dysphagia in children

Children can also have dysphagia as a result of a developmental or learning disability, such as cerebral palsy.

If children with long-term dysphagia aren’t eating enough, they may not get the essential nutrients they need for their physical and mental development. Children may also find meal times stressful, which could lead to behavioural problems.

Treating dysphagia

Treatment usually depends on the cause and the type of dysphagia.

Many cases of dysphagia can be improved with careful management, but a cure isn’t always possible.

Treatments for dysphagia include:

  • Speech and language therapy to help people recover their swallowing, through special exercises and techniques.
  • Changing the consistency of food and liquids to make them safer to swallow.
  • Other forms of feeding – such as tube feeding through the nose or stomach.
  • Surgery to widen the oesophagus, by stretching it or inserting a plastic or metal tube (also known as a stent).

It’s important to note, that people with Dysphagia can often choke on their own food and this can result in death if emergency medical services are not contacted immediately.

Remember always consult your Doctor for advice if you have difficulty swallowing or any other signs of dysphagia as getting immediate treatment is important.

We hope you found this information useful!

Dysphagia - Problem Swallowing

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