What is the treatment and cause of difficulty swallowing, Difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia, is a painful condition where swallowing is difficult in some cases. It results from a problem in the throat or esophagus, the muscle responsible for moving food from the mouth to the stomach.
A person with dysphagia experiences difficulty swallowing and needs time and effort to move food from the mouth to the stomach. They may also have difficulty swallowing saliva. Symptoms may include pain while swallowing or a feeling of food getting stuck in the throat.
Symptoms of Difficulty Swallowing
Symptoms of difficulty swallowing include:
- Pain while swallowing.
- Inability to swallow.
- A feeling of food getting stuck in the throat or chest.
- Hoarseness.
- A burning sensation in the throat.
- Food regurgitation.
- Unexpected weight loss.
- Chest pain.
- Coughing.
- Vomiting.
What are the causes of difficulty swallowing
There are several causes of difficulty swallowing, including:
- Problems with the brain or nerves.
- Immune system problems or certain infections.
- Weakness in the mouth muscles can cause difficulty moving food and swallowing.
- Esophageal stricture, which leads to food reflux and consequently difficulty swallowing.
- Neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease or stroke.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where stomach acid flows back up and can cause esophageal ulcers.
- Certain cancerous or benign tumors.
- Esophageal muscle spasms.
Methods of Diagnosing Difficulty Swallowing
Upper endoscopy, where a tube with a camera is inserted through the mouth to examine the throat and esophagus.
Barium swallow, where the patient swallows barium, and then the area is imaged with X-rays to observe the passage of food through the throat.
CT scans and MRIs to obtain clear images of the throat, including muscles and soft tissues.
Swallowing motility study, which measures the throat's response to food of varying consistency.
Treatment for Difficulty Swallowing
Treatment for difficulty swallowing depends on the underlying cause. The treating physician will prescribe antibiotics or antifungals to treat bacterial or fungal infections causing the difficulty swallowing.
They may also prescribe reflux medications to control acid reflux if it is the cause of the difficulty swallowing, and muscle relaxants to treat the discomfort resulting from esophageal muscle spasms.
Medications that Treat Difficulty Swallowing
- Pectol lozenges
- Augmentin tablets
- Execuedogast capsules
- Maxilase tablets
- Maalox Plus
- Larypro
- Dinitra
Home Remedies for Difficulty Swallowing
Some home remedies and lifestyle changes can help prevent difficulty swallowing. These include:
- Changing eating habits by eating smaller, more frequent meals and chewing food thoroughly and slowly.
- Eat foods that are easy to swallow, such as soup or mashed potatoes.
- You can blend foods in a blender to make them easier to swallow.
- Reduce irritants by limiting drinks that dry out the throat, such as caffeine.
- Get plenty of rest to help fight infection.
- Gargle with warm salt water to soothe a sore throat.
- Use a humidifier to keep the air moist and reduce irritation.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol.
Complications of Difficulty Swallowing
Some of the most important complications of difficulty swallowing include:
- Malnutrition and dehydration, as difficulty swallowing can make it hard to eat enough food and drink, leading to malnutrition and dehydration.
- Aspiration pneumonia, which occurs when food or drink accidentally enters the airway.
- Choking, as food stuck in the throat can cause choking.
- Severe coughing.
- Chest infection.
Exercises to Treat Difficulty Swallowing
Some basic exercises for treating difficulty swallowing include:
- Strengthening the tongue by pressing against the roof of the mouth or pretending to yawn.
- Laryngeal elevation exercises by raising the head and looking at the toes while keeping the shoulders on the ground.
- The supergluteal maneuver exercise by holding the breath, swallowing, and then immediately coughing.
Article Summary
Difficulty swallowing is defined as a painful condition in which swallowing is difficult in some cases. It is caused by a problem in the throat or esophagus, the muscle responsible for moving food from the mouth to the stomach.
Treatment depends on the cause. The treating physician will prescribe antibiotics or antifungals to treat bacterial or fungal infections causing the difficulty swallowing.