Each time you eat and swallow food, a complex process involving many muscles and nerves. Normally, things taken via the mouth in food or beverages are eased through the esophagus and into the stomach. As complex as it could be, what could be simpler and more natural of an action? Still, for some, swallowing is not what it is described here; rather, it is a severely compromised process and, in many cases, anguish. Dysphagia, which means difficulty swallowing or the inability to swallow at all, can develop in people of any age and is generally an indication of another disease.
The next subcategories, which we will discuss in detail, allow us to reveal dysphagia’s big picture.
Table of Contents
Types of Dysphagia
Dysphagia, in medical terms, means difficulty in swallowing, and it is categorized into three types based on which part of the swallowing process is being affected.
- Oral dysphagia
- Esophageal dysphagia
- Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
What Causes Dysphagia?
Dysphagia can affect people of any age and usually has a cause that might either be an injury or other condition. Some factors that cause swallowing disturbance include narrowing and blockages in the structure of your food pipe. These problems could result from injuries, cancer, GERD, Esophageal webs, or Schatzki rings.
In other cases, you may have difficulties swallowing if you suffer from myositis, achalasia, or muscular dystrophy. These conditions do not allow the head and neck muscles to transfer the food through the esophagus.
Other reasons that can lead to dysphagia are diseases or injuries located in the brain and the nervous system. These may include:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Commonly referred to as motor neuron disease this condition affects the nerves of the muscles in the throat, creating an issue in swallowing.
- Cerebral Palsy
This is a developmental disorder that has the same impact as ALS. It also affects the movement of the muscles and the coordination of the body.
- Dementia
This mental condition also results in changes in the thinking process and loss of motor coordination, thus leading to swallowing complications
- Multiple sclerosis
This results in an inflammatory disorder that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cords.
- Parkinson’s Disease
This powerful neurological disease negatively affects motor functions due to the atrophy of the nerve tissue in the brain.
- Brain Tumors
Both can hinder nerve impulses that tell muscles to contract, which can be both benign and malignant.
Symptoms of Dysphagia
The most common telltale signs of this condition include: The most common telltale signs of this condition include:
- Complete inability to swallow
- Feeling that food is stuck in the throat, chest, or behind the breastbone.
- Drooling
- Frequent heartburn
- Hoarseness
- Soreness or need for painful food and drinks
- Vomiting means that food is brought back up with a force
Treatment Options
The management of dysphagia depends on the cause and the severity of symptomology present in an individual. Some common approaches include:
- Swallowing Therapy
This comprises activities to grow and develop muscles, making an individual more coordinated
- Diet Modifications
Make food taken to become more acceptable in consistency and liquids become thicker and easier to swallow. You can get that kind of food from SimplyThick on LinkedIn
- Medications
Some drugs are prescribed to ease the symptoms or treat the disease
- Surgery
At times, surgeries may be required due to certain structural problems.
Learning about dysphagia begins with knowing about the swallowing disorders that it entails. If you or someone you know is having swallowing challenges, you should not waste any time seeing a doctor. This is where early intervention plays a great role in helping and profoundly affects the results of the patient.
