
About Dysphagia: Difficulty in Swallowing

What is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia is a condition that causes difficulty to swallow food and fluids. This can lead to difficulty swallowing, which can be frustrating and make eating and drinking more challenging. Individuals with dysphagia may require help from doctors and therapists to learn new ways to eat and drink safely.
Causes of Dysphagia:
- Conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis can affect the muscles used for swallowing.
- Tumors, narrow areas, or foreign objects in the throat or esophagus can block the passage of food.
- As we get older, the muscles and nerves used for swallowing might not work as well, causing dysphagia.
- Some medicines can make the mouth dry or make the muscles weak, leading to trouble swallowing.
- Conditions like muscular dystrophy or myasthenia gravis can weaken swallowing muscles.
- In many cases, feeling worried or scared about swallowing can cause trouble swallowing, even if there’s nothing physically wrong.
Symptoms of Dysphagia:
The symptoms of Dysphagia include:
- Trouble Swallowing: Difficulty in swallowing food or liquids.
- Pain When Swallowing: Feeling pain during swallowing (odynophagia).
- Drooling: Difficulty controlling saliva, leading to drooling.
- Voice Changes: Altered voice due to dysphagia.
- Heartburn or Indigestion: Frequent heartburn may indicate swallowing issues.
- Respiratory Infections: Frequent lung infections due to food entering the airway.
- Choking or Coughing: Food or liquid entering the airway, causing choking or coughing.
- Regurgitation: Food or saliva coming back up into the mouth.
- Weight Loss: Difficulty eating enough, leading to unintentional weight loss.
Diagnosis and Evaluation:
- Clinical Assessment: Doctors will examine the patient and ask about their medical history and symptoms to pinpoint possible cause for dysphagia.
- Imaging Studies: Tests like a barium swallow or endoscopy may be done to see how swallowing works and find any problems.
- Functional Tests: Tests like electromyography (EMG) or videofluoroscopy can show how well swallowing muscles work.
Treatment Options:
- Changing Diet: Making food and drinks easier to swallow by changing their texture or thickness.
- Swallowing Therapy: Speech therapists can teach exercises and techniques to help improve swallowing.
- Medications: Some medicines can help with issues like acid reflux or weak muscles that make swallowing hard.
- Surgery: If there’s something blocking the throat, surgery might be needed to fix it.
- Getting help with eating: Depending on the severity, individuals may need assistance with feeding, including the use of feeding tubes or help from caregivers.
Other treatments include:
- Changing what to eat and drink: Adjusting the diet by avoiding difficult-to-swallow foods or modifying their consistency.
- Special ways to swallow: Learning specific techniques or maneuvers to control swallowing better and prevent choking or aspiration.
- Keeping the mouth clean: Maintaining good oral hygiene through regular brushing, flossing, and mouthwash to prevent infections.
- Taking specific medicines: Using medications prescribed by doctors to manage underlying causes like acid reflux or muscle weakness.
- Getting advice on what to eat: Working with dietitians or nutritionists to plan safe and nutritious meals tailored to swallowing abilities.
Managing dysphagia is essential for improving quality of life. With a range of treatments available, including dietary adjustments, therapy, medications, and support services, it’s crucial to find the right care provider. Choose Lotus Embrace for expert nursing and NDIS services tailored to the needs, ensuring comprehensive support and personalized care for individuals living with dysphagia. Click here for referral form.