what can i take to cure or help with dyspagia

Dysphagia (Difficulty Swallowing)

Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing is a symptom of many dissimilar medical conditions. These weather condition tin include nervous organisation and brain disorders, muscle disorders, and physical blockages in the pharynx. Handling for swallowing issues varies depending on the crusade of the issue, but tin can include antibiotics, changes to your eating habits and sometimes surgery.

Overview

Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that is often noted in stroke survivors. It tin touch the oral and/or pharyngeal stage of swallowing.

What is Dysphagia?

Dysphagia is simply defined every bit a swallowing disorder. Information technology can occur in any of the 3 phases of swallowing:

Oral
Pharyngeal
Esophageal

Dysphagia is oft noted in stroke survivors and can touch the oral and/or pharyngeal phase of swallowing. The patient may cough or choke while attempting to swallow saliva, liquids, or food. A speech-language pathologist oftentimes assesses a patient'south ability to consume in gild to determine the run a risk of aspiration, (food or liquid going into the lungs) which potentially may lead to a lung infection or pneumonia.

Stroke survivors are at take chances for silent aspiration. Silent aspiration is when food and liquid enter into the lungs without any coughing or choking. In these patients, there are no outward signs or symptoms of a swallowing problem.

What does it mean to have difficulty swallowing?

When we eat, many muscles and nerves work together to go food or drink from our mouths into our stomachs. Trouble with swallowing can originate anywhere in the oral cavity, pharynx or esophagus. The esophagus is a muscular tube in your throat that carries food and water to your stomach.

Swallowing issues can exist mild or severe. The treatment varies depending on what's causing the problem. Sometimes, doctors tin prescribe medication to help you swallow. If you're unable to swallow anything at all, you may need a feeding tube to get the nourishment y'all need.

Possible Causes

What can crusade difficulty swallowing?

Many disorders, diseases and atmospheric condition tin cause trouble swallowing. Doctors split up swallowing problems into three types:

Mouth dysphagia: The problem is in the mouth. Typical causes include natural language weakness after stroke, difficulty chewing nutrient or neuromuscular problems.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia: The problem is in the throat. This tin be a result of a neurological or muscular problem.
Esophageal dysphagia: This is a problem of the esophagus. This can be caused when something blocks or compresses the esophagus, there's a muscular disorder or there are pouches in the esophagus.

What conditions can cause swallowing problems?

Possible causes of swallowing difficulties can include:

Nervous arrangement and encephalon disorders: Sure conditions affect your encephalon and nervous arrangement (the network of nerves that controls muscles and organs). Parkinson's illness, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and stroke can lead to swallowing difficulties.
Musculus disorders: Myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune status) and muscular dystrophy touch on muscles all over the body. Disorders of the esophagus, such equally achalasia, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), cricopharyngeal spasms and esophageal spasms tin affect your power to swallow.
Esophagus narrowing and blockages: Esophageal cancer, a tumor or a swollen thyroid gland can constrict the esophagus (make information technology narrower). A narrowed esophagus can make swallowing a challenge. Some people develop webs or Schatzki rings (pieces of tissue inside the esophagus). This tissue narrows the tube and makes information technology hard to swallow chunks of nutrient. Disorders of the opening of the esophagus can also contribute to difficulty swallowing such as cricopharyngeal hypertrophy. Swallowing can exist hard or impossible if annihilation is stuck in your pharynx.
Scarring from acid reflux: Scar tissue can grade in your esophagus equally a result of GERD (acid reflux disease). GERD can lead to Barrett's esophagus (irritation in the esophagus lining).
Infection: Tonsillitis (sore throat) causes hurting and inflammation. It tin brand swallowing painful.

Intendance and Handling

How is dysphagia diagnosed?

Diagnostic tests for swallowing disorders vary. Typical tests include:

Flexible laryngoscopy: This exam is washed by an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist. It involves placing a small-scale telescopic in your nose and looking at your throat and vocal cords.
Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES): Performed by a speech therapist, this test involves passing a small photographic camera into your nose and feeding you dyed liquids and food to see how y'all are swallowing. During the test, your provider will as well look to run into if the food is getting into your airway (aspiration).
Modified barium eat: During this test, a oral communication therapist gives you dissimilar foods and liquids to chew and consume. The food will be covered with barium, a minty tasting liquid or pasty fabric. Barium allows images of your mouth, throat and esophagus to be seen on Ten-ray images. The spoken language therapist will tell you when to chew and swallow and the radiologist will take X-ray images while you're swallowing.
Esophagram: In this test, you lot drink barium and the radiologist takes pictures of your esophagus.
Esophagoduodenoscopy (EGD) or upper endoscopy: This test involves a healthcare provider chosen a gastroenterologist (GI) who places a scope down your throat. The scope continues downward your pharynx, into your esophagus and downward into your stomach. This test is used to look for any narrowing, tumors or Barrett'southward esophagus.

How is dysphagia treated?

Handling for difficulty swallowing depends on the cause and severity of the problem. Your handling might include:

Antibiotics: Your dr. may prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial tonsillitis (strep throat).
Medication and lifestyle changes: Treatment for GERD includes drugs to control acid reflux. Your doctor may also recommend changing your diet and eating habits.
Other medical therapy: If a neurological condition makes information technology difficult for you to swallow, your doc can offer solutions. Your options might include botulinum toxin (Botox®) injections to relieve musculus spasms or surgery to enlarge the esophagus.

What kinds of rehabilitation assist with swallowing issues?

Some people find rehabilitation helpful. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can teach y'all exercises to strengthen your swallowing muscles. To consume safely, your SLP may recommend:

Changing how yous consume and drink: Your therapist will guide y'all to take smaller bites and chew food thoroughly. You may demand to add together a special thickening powder to your drinks, since watery liquids can be tough to swallow.
Sitting upright while eating: To reduce the adventure of choking, your therapist will bear witness you the all-time manner to sit while eating. Y'all can likewise learn to tilt your caput to make swallowing easier. These techniques reduce the run a risk of liquid getting into your airway (aspiration).
Clearing your pharynx: Therapists can teach you lot how to clear your throat with a little cough if liquid or a small slice of food gets stuck.

Will I need a feeding tube for difficulty swallowing?

If y'all tin't get enough of the vitamins and nutrients you need, yous are losing significant amounts of weight, or if you accept a loftier risk of choking, your doctor may recommend a feeding tube. This medical device delivers nutrients directly to your intestines or your tummy. Your doctor will hash out your options with you.

When to Telephone call the Doctor

When should I phone call my doctor near difficulty swallowing?

You should see your doc to determine the cause of your swallowing difficulties. Telephone call a doctor right away if yous're as well having trouble breathing or think something might be stuck in your throat. If you have sudden musculus weakness or paralysis and can't swallow at all, telephone call 911 or become to the emergency room.

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Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21195-dysphagia-difficulty-swallowing