Dysphagia
With difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), the patient needs extra time and effort to move food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. Dysphagia may be associated with pain In some cases, swallowing becomes impossible
Temporary difficulty in swallowing is minor if the condition is caused by eating food too quickly or improperly processing it in the mouth. However, persistent dysphagia may indicate a serious illness that requires treatment
Dysphagia can occur at any age, although it is more common in the elderly The causes of swallowing problems are different and therefore the treatment depends on them
Swallowing is a complex process and many rodents can interfere with it In some cases, the cause of dysphagia is unknown However, dysphagia usually falls into one of the following categories
Causes of esophageal dysphagia:
- Achalasia When the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax properly to allow food to pass through the stomach, food may back up into the throat. The muscles in the wall of the esophagus may be weak, in which case the condition sometimes worsens over time
In this condition, uncoordinated, high-pressure multiple contractions of the esophagus occur during swallowing. Scattered spasms cause uncontrollable muscle contractions in the lower part of the esophagus
Esophageal stricture Narrowing of the esophagus (stricture) may cause choking on large pieces of food. Tumors and scar tissue, most commonly caused by reflux disease, can also cause narrowing. Esophagus tumors In the presence of a tumor, the condition of difficult swallowing worsens over time Foreign bodies Sometimes, food or another body partially blocks the throat or esophagus Older people with dentures who have difficulty chewing food are more likely to choke on raw food in the throat or esophagus. Esophageal ring A small narrowing in the lower part of the esophagus can lead to chronic difficulty swallowing when eating solid food. reflux disease Frequent reflux of stomach juices into the esophagus (heartburn) can damage the tissues of the esophagus and cause spasms or scarring, causing narrowing of the lower part of the esophagus. Eosinophilic esophagitis A condition associated with food allergy is caused by an excess of eosinophils in the esophagus Scleroderma The formation of scar tissue causes the tissues to harden and tear, as a result of which the lower esophageal muscle (sphincter) may relax, which causes frequent reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus (heartburn). Radiation therapy This type of cancer treatment causes inflammation and scarring of the esophagus. You may have a choking sensation or cough when swallowing Sometimes there is a feeling that food or liquid is moving into the trachea or nose This process may cause inflammation of the lungs
Causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia:
- Neurological diseases Some diseases—such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson's disease—cause dysphagia.
- Neurological damage Sudden neurological injuries such as stroke, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury can also impair swallowing ability.
- Pharyngeal diverticulum A small lump that can form in the throat, above the esophagus, causing difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, bad breath, and coughing
- Cancer Some cancers and cancer treatments, such as radiation, can cause difficulty swallowing
Symptoms of dysphagia:
- Pain when swallowing (odynophagia)
- Complete restriction of swallowing
- Feeling that food is stuck in the throat, chest or behind the breastbone (sternum)
- Hoarseness
- Hoarseness
If choking prevents you from breathing, seek medical help immediately If you can't swallow because you feel like food has stuck to you
