Swallowing Difficulty
(Dysphagia)
What is Dysphagia?
Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) is common among all age groups, especially the elderly. The term dysphagia refers to the feeling of difficulty passing food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. This may be caused by many factors, most of which are temporary and not threatening. Difficulties in swallowing rarely represent a more serious disease, such as a tumor or a progressive neurological disorder.
How Do We Swallow?
Swallowing is a complicated process, but something that we usually give no thought to. Swallowing occurs hundreds of times a day in each of us to eat solids, drink liquids, and swallow the normal saliva and mucus that the body produces. The process of swallowing has four related stages:
Stage 1
The first stage is the oral preparation stage, where food or liquid is manipulated and chewed in preparation for swallowing.
Stage 2
The second stage is the oral transit stage, where the tongue propels the food or liquid to the back of the mouth, starting the swallowing response.
Stage 3
The third stage is the pharyngeal stage which begins as food or liquid is quickly passed through the pharynx, the region of the throat which connects the mouth with the esophagus, then into the esophagus or swallowing tube.
Stage 4
In the final, esophageal stage, the food or liquid passes through the esophagus into the stomach.
Although the first and second stages have some voluntary control, stages three and four occur involuntarily, without conscious input.
What Are The Symptoms Of Swallowing Disorders?
Symptoms of swallowing disorders may include:
- Drooling
- A feeling that food or liquid is sticking in the throat or cannot ‘go down’
- Discomfort in the throat or chest (when gastro esophageal reflux is present)
- A sensation of a foreign body or “lump” in the throat
- Weight loss and inadequate nutrition due to prolonged or more significant problems with swallowing
- Coughing or choking caused by bits of food, liquid, or saliva not passing easily during swallowing, and being sucked into the lungs
- Voice change
What Causes Swallowing Disorders?
Any interruption in the swallowing process can cause difficulties. Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly can help reduce problems with swallowing.
However, difficulties may be due to a range of other causes, including something as simple as poor teeth, ill fitting dentures, or a common cold. One of the most common causes of dysphagia is gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). This occurs when stomach acid moves up the esophagus to the pharynx, causing discomfort. Other causes may include: hypertension; diabetes; thyroid disease; stroke; progressive neurologic disorder; the presence of a tracheotomy tube; a paralyzed or unmoving vocal cord; a tumor in the mouth, throat, or esophagus; or surgery in the head, neck, or esophageal areas.
Swallowing difficulty can also be connected to some medications including:
- Nitrates
- Anticholinergic agents found in certain anti-depressants and allergy medications
- Calcium tablets
- Calcium channel blockers
- Aspirin
- Iron tablets
- Vitamin C
- Antipsychotics
- Antibiotics used to treat acne
How Are Swallowing Disorders Diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing swallowing disorders starts with flexible nasoendoscopy. This evaluates the upper airway and throat. If this does not reveal any obvious abnormalities, further tests can be performed. These procedures are called FEES (Fiber optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) or FEESST (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing with Sensory Testing). If necessary, an examination of the esophagus, named TransNasal Esophagoscopy (TNE), may also be carried out. If you experience difficulty swallowing, it is important to seek treatment to avoid malnutrition and dehydration.
How Are Swallowing Disorders Treated?
Once the cause of dysphagia is determined, swallowing disorders may be treated with:
- Medication
- Swallowing therapy, or
- Surgery
Medication
Many swallowing disorders can be treated with medication.
Drugs that slow stomach acid production, muscle relaxants, and antacids are a few of the many medicines available. Treatment is, of course tailored to the particular cause of the swallowing disorder.
Gastroesophageal reflux / Laryngopharyngeal reflux can often be treated by changing eating and living habits in these ways:
- Eating a bland diet with smaller, more frequent meals.
- Eliminating tobacco, alcohol and caffeine.
- Reducing weight and stress.
- Avoiding food within 3-4 hours of bedtime.
- Elevating the head of the bed at night.
If these don’t help, antacids between meals and at bedtime may provide relief.
Swallowing Therapy
Many swallowing disorders may be helped by direct swallowing therapy. A speech pathologist can provide special exercises for coordinating the swallowing muscles or stimulating the nerves that trigger the swallow reflex. Patients may also be taught simple ways to place food in the mouth or position the body and head to help the swallow occur successfully.
Some patients with swallowing disorders may have difficulty feeding themselves. A speech therapist can aid the patient and family in feeding techniques. These techniques make the patient as independent as possible. A dietician or nutritional expert can determine the amount of food or liquid necessary to sustain an individual and whether supplements are necessary.
Surgery
Surgery is used to treat certain problems. If a narrowing exists in the throat or esophagus, the area may need to be stretched or dilated. If a muscle is too tight, it may need to be dilated or released surgically. This procedure is called a myotomy.
Voice Conditions
Throat / Swallowing Conditions
Procedures & Treatments
- Tracheostomy
- Microlaryngoscopy with Phonosurgery
- Flexible Nasoendoscopy
- Direct Laryngoscopy
- Removal of ingested foreign body
- Tonsillectomy
