Dysphagia- Symptoms and treatment
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) means it takes much longer and more energy to swallow food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Dysphagia can also be related to pain. In some cases, swallowing could also be impossible. People that have a tough time swallowing may choke on their food or liquid when trying to swallow.Occasional difficulty swallowing, which can occur once you eat too fast or don't chew your food tolerably, usually isn't cause for concern. But persistent dysphagia may indicate a significant medical condition requiring treatment. Prescribed medicines can be bought from online pharmacy app delhi.
What are the potential causes of dysphagia?
Acid Reflux And Gerd: Acid reflux symptoms are caused when stomach contents flow up from the stomach back to the esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn, stomach pain, and burping
Heartburn: Heartburn may be a burning sensation in your chest that always occurs with a bitter taste in your throat or mouth
Diffuse spasm affects the involuntary muscles within the walls of your lower esophagus.
Esophageal Stricture
Large pieces of food are trapped due to narrowing of oesophagus(stricture) Tumors or connective tissue, often caused by esophageal reflux disease (GERD), can cause narrowing.
Esophageal Tumors
In presence of esophageal tumors , there is difficulty in swallowing which progressively worsens the condition.
Neurological Disorders
Certain disorders — like MS, dystrophy and paralysis agitans — can cause dysphagia.
Snake Bites: A bite from a venomous snake should be treated as a medical emergency. Even a bite from a harmless snake can cause an allergy or infection.
Who all are at Risk?
Aging- thanks to natural aging and normal wear and tear on the esophagus and a greater risk of certain conditions, like stroke or paralysis agitans, older adults are at higher risk of swallowing difficulties. But, dysphagia isn't considered a traditional sign of aging.
Fee health conditions
What are the Symptoms of Dysphagia?
Signs and symptoms related to dysphagia may include:
- Having pain while swallowing (odynophagia)
- Being unable to swallow
- Feel of food getting stuck in your throat or chest or behind your breastbone (sternum)
- Drooling
- Being hoarse
- Bringing food copy (regurgitation)
- Having frequent heartburn
- Having food or stomach acid copy into your throat
- Unexpectedly losing weight
- Coughing or gagging when swallowing
- Having to chop food into smaller pieces or avoiding certain foods due to trouble swallowing
What are the treatment modalities?
Some swallowing difficulties can’t be prevented and dysphagia treatment is important.
Swallowing evaluation is done by pathologist to diagnosis dysphagia. On completion evaluation, the speech pathologist recommend:
- diet modification
- oropharyngeal swallowing
- exercises to strengthen muscles
- compensatory swallowing strategies
- postural modifications that you simply should follow while eating
Learning exercises- There are few exercises that may help coordinate swallowing muscles to trigger them or their neeve supply Also patients are taught swallowing technique involving different ways to put food in mouth or positioning of body and head to assist your swallowing.
Medications
Difficulty swallowing related to GERD are often treated with prescription oral medications to scale back stomach acid. You can buy medication online.
Surgery- For an esophageal tumor, achalasia or pharyngoesophageal diverticulum, you'll need surgery to clear your esophageal path.
The sort of surgery depends on the cause for dysphagia.
Some examples are:
- Laparoscopic Heller myotomy
- Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)
- Esophageal dilation
Conclusion
Although swallowing difficulties cannot be prevented but one can reduce risk of occasional difficulty swallowing by slowly eating and chewing food properly.