What is Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing)?
A typical “swallow” may involve many different muscles and nerves; it is a surprisingly complex method. Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) can be affecting by a difficulty anywhere in the swallowing method. However, there are three general kinds of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
- Oral dysphagia (high dysphagia): However, the issue is in the mouth, sometimes affecting by tongue weakness after a stroke, trouble chewing food, or issues transporting food from the mouth.
- Pharyngeal dysphagia: However, the issue is in the throat. Problems in the throat are often affecting by a neurological problem that influences the nerves.
- Esophageal dysphagia (low dysphagia): However, the issue is in the esophagus. This is normally because of a stoppage or irritation. Often, a surgical method is needed.
However, it is worth noting that pain when swallowing (odynophagia) is various from dysphagia, but it is viable to have both at the same time. And, Globus is the interest of something being set in the throat.
Symptoms of Dysphagia 9difficulty swallowing)
Some patients have dysphagia and are unknowing of it. It may go undiagnosed and not be curing in these cases, increasing the risk of aspiration pneumonia (a lung infection that can build after accidentally inhaling saliva or food particles).
However, undiagnosed dysphagia may also guide dehydration and malnutrition. Some symptoms connecting to dysphagia may include:-
- Choking when eating.
- Coughing or gagging when swallowing.
- Drooling.
- Food or stomach acid backing up into the throat.
- Recurrent heartburn.
- Hoarseness.
- The interest of food obtaining stuck in the throat or chest or behind the breastbone.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Carrying food back up (regurgitation).
- Trouble managing food in the mouth.
- Trouble beginning the swallowing process.
- Recurrent pneumonia.
- Inability to manage saliva in the mouth.
Causes of dysphagia
However, viable causes of dysphagia may include:-
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: An incurable form of developing neurodegeneration; over time, the nerves in the spines and brain developed lose function.
- Achalasia: Lower esophageal muscle does not relax sufficiently to permit food into the stomach.
- Diffuse spasm: However, the muscle in the esophagus agree in an uncoordinated way.
- Stroke: Brain cells die due to the absence of oxygen because blood flow is decreasing. However, if the brain cells that manage to swallow are influencing, it can cause dysphagia.
- Esophageal ring: A little portion of the esophagus narrows, stopping solid foods from flowing through sometimes.
- Eosinophilic esophagitis: Much more elevated levels of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the esophagus. However, these eosinophils increase in an unmanaged way and attack the gastrointestinal system, guiding vomiting and trouble with swallowing food.
- Myasthenia gravis (Goldflam disease): However, the muscle under voluntary management becomes easily tired and poor because there is an issue with how the nerves absorb the contraction of muscles.
- Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism syndromes: However, this disease is a normally developing, degenerative neurological issue that impairs the patient’s motor skills.
- Radiation: Some patients who accepted radiation therapy (radiotherapy) to the neck and the head area may have swallowing troubles.
- Cleft lip and palate: These are types of abnormal buildings of the face due to the incomplete fusing of bones in the head, resulting in gaps (clefts) in the palate and the lip to the nose area.
- Scleroderma: A group of autoimmune disorders where the skin and connective tissues become tighter and harden.
- Esophageal cancer: A part of cancer in the esophagus, normally connected to either alcohol and smoking, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Diagnosis of dysphagia
A speech-language consultant will try to decide where the problem lies which part of the swallowing method is causing trouble. The patient will be a query about symptoms, how long they have been seen, whether the issue is with liquids, solids, or both.
- Swallow study: However, this is normally administered by a speech consultant. They exam different consistencies of food and liquid to see which cause trouble.
- Barium swallow test: The patient swallows a barium-holding liquid. Barium shows up in X-rays and helps the consultant identify what is occurring in the esophagus in severe detail, normally the activity of the muscles.
- Endoscopy: A consultant uses a camera to seek down into the esophagus. However, they will take a biopsy if they notice something they think might be cancer.
Treatment for dysphagia
However, it may be based on the types of dysphagia:
Treatment cure for oropharyngeal dysphagia (high dysphagia)
Because oropharyngeal dysphagia is often a neurological issue, supplying effective treatment is challenging. However, some patients with Parkinson’s disorder may react well to Parkinson’s disorder medication.
- Swallowing therapy: This therapy will be done with the help of a speech and language consultant. The individuals will memorize new steps of swallowing properly. Excercise will support improve the muscles and how they respond.
- Diet: Some foods and liquids are trouble-free to swallow. While eating trouble-free swallow foods, it is also essential that the patient has a well-balanced diet.
Treatment cure for esophageal dysphagia (low dysphagia)
Surgical intervention is normally needed for esophageal dysphagia.
Dilation: However, if the esophagus is required to be widened (due to a stricture, for example), a small balloon may be injected and then inflated (it is then removed).
Botulinum toxin (Botox): Familiarly used if the muscle in the esophagus becomes stiff (achalasia). Botulinum toxin is a powerful toxin that can paralyze stiff muscle, decreasing constriction.
