|
|
What is Dysphagia? |
| | | | |
Symptoms
Dysphagia (or a difficulty with swallowing) shouldn’t normally be a cause for concern, as it can occur for the simple reason that the person eats his meals too quickly, or he isn’t chewing his food thoroughly enough. Persistent dysphagia, however, can be indicative of another serious health condition which may require treatment. Dysphagia may be experienced in accordance with pain while swallowing, or a tendency to choke or cough up food while eating. Patients may also feel a sensation that the food is stuck in the throat or the chest, particularly behind the sternum, and may regurgitate the food even if it has reached deep down into the throat. Heartburns, stomach acidity, a sudden weight loss, and frequent lapses of pneumonia may also be signs of dysphagia.
Causes
If swallowing food is difficult at any point, dysphagia occurs. A number of conditions may be responsible for the condition, and it is classified into categories. Esophageal dysphagia is the most typical, and is evidenced by the sensation that the food sticks or lags at the base of the patient’s throat or chest. Aging, diffuse spasms, esophageal strictures or tumors, and foreign bodies or objects are associated with this type, as well as conditions like scleroderma, pharyngeal diverticula, and achalasia. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is caused by a weakening of the throat muscles (due to a neuromuscular problem), making it hard for them to move the food from the mouth and into the esophagus; this may be caused by conditions like Parkinson’s disease, a post-polio syndrome, dystrophy of the muscles, and multiple sclerosis. The third type is relatively unexplained, as it has no physiological cause; problems with taking pills or a sensation of a throat lump, for instance, may be attributed to a psychological cause instead.
Diagnosis
A physical examination is the first step to diagnosis; the doctor may inspect the throat and esophagus for any cause of obstruction. This may be followed by several diagnostic tests. The patient may be asked to ingest a barium solution; the substance coats the lining of the esophagus, which allows the latter to project a clearer image on an X-ray. The active element may also be administered in pill form, in order to view the way in which it moves within the throat muscles. With endoscopy, a very thin, bendable equipment is introduced into the throat, so the physician can have a look inside the esophagus. The patient may also undergo an esophageal muscle test wherein a tube is inserted, and the muscle contractions are measured.
Treatment Info
Specific exercises may be advised for oropharyngeal dysphagia, in an attempt to restimulate the nerve endings which cause a swallowing reflex. For esophageal dysphagia, the doctor may stretch the width of the esophagus by using an endoscope with a balloon attachment, or may opt for surgery if the cause is a tumor. For severs cases which prevent the patient from taking enough food to maintain proper nutrition, the doctor may either prescribe a liquid diet, or may install a feeding tube that bypasses the area which interferes with the swallowing process.
| | | |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
