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The process of passing the chewed food from the mouth to the stomach is called swallowing. When you experience difficulty in swallowing, it is medically known as dysphagia.
Swallowing involves the coordinated working ofmuscles and nerves in the upper digestive tract — from mouth to the stomach. When there is some problem with the functioning of these muscles and nerves, you experience dysphagia.
Occasional dysphagia, like when you eat too much or too fast, is normal. However, when dysphagia is a routine then you require medical attention to avoid complications. Management of this condition is possible with modifications in dietary habits, medications, and surgery.
Reports show that one in 25 adults in the United States experience swallowing problems each year. This condition ismore prevalent in older people.Studies also show that hospitalized patients are at a higher risk of developing dysphagia compared to healthy individuals.
Dysphagia is difficulty in swallowing. In severe cases, swallowing becomes nearly impossible. This results in inadequate food consumption andnutritional deficiencies. This is why it is important to recognize the early symptoms of dysphagia and seek medical attention in a timely manner.
The followingsymptoms can be an indication that you are suffering from dysphagia:
Coughing or choking while eating or drinking
Regurgitation of food
Feeling food stuck in the throat or chest
Hoarseness
If dysphagia continues for long, it may lead to:
Weight loss
Repeated chest infections
If you are experiencing such symptoms, you must consult your doctor for detailed evaluation of the condition. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and may conduct a swallowing test like barium swallow to observe how food moves through the throat and esophagus.
In some cases, doctors recommend an endoscopy or avideo fluoroscopic swallowing to identify any blockages or muscle issues.
When food reaches the food pipe or esophagus, the muscles in the esophagus work in coordination to push food downward. The muscles behind the food contract to push it forward while the muscles ahead relax and expand, making it easier for the food to move through the food pipe. When there is some problem with this coordination, it can lead to dysphagia.
Here are a few common factors that can lead to dysphagia:
Neurological problems affect the brain and nerves that control swallowing. Conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or a spinal cord injury candisrupt the signals between the brain and the muscles that regulate swallowing.
Since swallowing is a coordinated act of muscle, impairment of nerve signals can disturb this coordination and lead to difficulty in swallowing.
Structural problems involve physical changes or abnormalities in the esophagus. Narrowing of the esophagus, calledesophageal strictures, can make swallowing difficult.
Tumors in the throat or esophagus, or congenital conditions like acleft palate, can also obstruct the normal passage of food.
Certain muscle disorders can directly impact the muscles that regulate swallowing.Achalasia is a condition where the esophagus muscles fail to relax, obstructing the passage of food to the stomach.
Esophageal spasms can also cause uncoordinated or painful contractions of the esophageal muscles, making swallowing uncomfortable. Scleroderma, a connective tissue disorder, can alsoweaken the esophagus muscles and lower their efficiency in pushing food forward towards the stomach.
Inflammation in the esophagus can also make swallowing challenging and uncomfortable.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes stomach acid to irritate the esophagus. The repeated irritation from GERD can cause inflammation and scarring in the long term, leading to the narrowing of the food passage. Esophagitis can also make it hard to swallow food by causing swelling of the esophageal lining.
Depending on which area of the upper digestive tract is causing difficulty in swallowing, dysphagia can be divided intodifferent types. These include:
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is due to problems related to the mouth and throat area. People with oropharyngeal dysphagia struggle to push food from the mouth into the esophagus.
Neurological problems are commonly associated with oropharyngeal dysphagia. You may experience symptoms like choking, coughing during meals, or feeling food stuck in the throat.
Esophageal dysphagia is when food enters the esophagus from the mouth but you struggle to move it down the esophagus. Common causes for this type of dysphagia include conditions like GERD, achalasia, esophageal strictures or tumors in esophagus.
Esophageal dysphagia feels as if food is stuck in the chest - you experience chest pain, or have backflow of food.
Dysphagia is referred to asfunctional dysphagia when there is no apparent neurological or physical cause for it.Studies associate this type of dysphagia with muscle coordination and pain perception issues.
With functional dysphagia, you will experience typical symptoms of dysphagia, which include difficulty in swallowing, a sensation of a lump in the throat, and chest pain.
Treatment for dysphagia focuses on addressing underlying causes, improving swallowing, and avoiding complications. Aside from medical treatment, dietary changes such as consuming soft, easy-to-swallow foods and avoiding foods that trigger symptoms, are crucial for the effective management of this condition.
Treatment options include:
Medications can help treat some causes and avoid complications of dysphagia.
For example, when dysphagia is caused by GERD, acid-lowering medications like antacids or proton pump inhibitors can improve the condition. These medicines reduce stomach acid and protect the esophagus from repeated irritation, making swallowing easier and less painful.
Chest infections are a common complication of dysphagia. It occurs due to food or liquid entering the airway. In such people, antibiotics can help lower infection and avoid serious complications.
Inswallowing therapy, a trained therapist works with patients to improve their swallowing ability. They teach exercises that build muscle strength and show patients how to position their heads to make swallowing easier.
For example, a2017 study shows that tilting the head in specific directions can help food move down more smoothly. These techniques help improve swallowing and make eating safer by avoiding complications likeaspiration.
Esophageal dilation is used for conditions that narrow the esophagus, like strictures or achalasia. In this procedure, a thin tube with a balloon is inserted into the esophagus. The balloon is gently inflated to stretch and widen the narrow area. This makes it easier for food and liquid to pass through the esophagus, improving the symptoms of dysphagia.
Surgery is needed insevere cases, especially when structural problems are responsible for difficulty in swallowing. Tumors in the esophagus are a common example that requires surgery to improve swallowing. Surgery can also fix severe esophageal strictures or achalasia that do not respond to other treatments.
People with dysphagia should focus on eating foods that are easy-to-swallow and provide good nutrition. This is important because difficulty swallowing puts these people at ahigher risk of nutritional deficiencies. People with dysphagia also struggle to meet their calorie needs, making it important to incorporate healthy fats into meals to boost calorie intake.
Pureed fruits provide the nutrients of whole fruits in an easy-to-swallow form, making them an excellent food choice for people with dysphagia. For example, pureed fruits, like applesauce or mashed bananas, are soft, easy to swallow, and rich in nutrients. These fruits are also a good source of fiber, whichhelps with digestion and improves symptoms like heartburn in dysphagia.
People with dysphagia can include overcooked, steamed, or boiled vegetables in their meals. These foods are softer and easier to swallow, making them a good option. They also provide thenutritional benefits of vegetables, like vitamins and fiber, to support overall health.
Mashed potatoes are soft, smooth, and easy to swallow. They are a good source of carbohydrates, which provide energy. Adding a small amount of butter or milk can make them more nutritious while also helping you reach your calorie requirements.
Scrambled eggs are soft and packed with protein. Protein from such easy-to-swallow foods can help you meet your daily protein requirements, which is essential forbuilding and repairing body tissues, including muscles for swallowing.
Eggs are also rich in vitamins like B12, which isgood for neurological health.
Yogurt is creamy, easy to swallow, and highly nutritious. It contains protein andprobiotics, which are good forgut health and efficient digestion. People experiencing weight loss in dysphagia due to calorie deficiency can choose full-fat yogurt for extra calories.
Smooth soups like cream of chicken or tomato soup are easy to eat and can be very nutritious. They can include blended vegetables, providing a range of vitamins and minerals. Adding some olive oil or cream can increase the calorie content for added energy.
Avoiding the following foods can help you manage the symptoms of dysphagia:
Raw vegetables, such as carrots and celery, require a lot of chewing and are hard to swallow for people with dysphagia. They can easily get stuck in the throat, worsening the symptoms of dysphagia and increasing the risk of complications like aspiration.
Whole grain foods like brown rice and granola are dense and have a rough texture. This can make them challenging to swallow and have a higher chance of getting stuck in the throat.
Nuts are hard and dry, making them a challenging food to swallow for people with dysphagia. They can also break into small pieces that may get stuck in the throat and worsen the symptoms. Even nut butter, like peanut butter, arenot recommended since they have a thick texture and present a significant risk of choking.
Bread can form a sticky lump in the mouth or throat, making swallowing hard. It is better to avoid crusty or hard bread and go for softer, well-moistened options like pureed bread.
A2021 study shows that about 40% of people with dysphagia are at risk of malnutrition. Superfood powders can be a great option for them, as they are easy to mix into drinks or smoothies. These powders are packed with essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which help support overall health.
Superfood powders offer a convenient way to fill the nutritional gaps in diet without the risk of choking or discomfort. If you plan to incorporate a superfood powder into your diet,Organic Greens Powder Superfood can be an excellent choice for you to start with.
How dysphagia might impact your quality of life depends on the severity of the condition. In some cases, dietary modifications and rehabilitation techniques like swallowing therapy may help you live a normal life with reduced symptoms of dysphagia.
However, in other cases where dysphagia makes it very hard to swallow food and liquids, it can significantly impact the quality of life.
Studies show that anxiety and depression can impact the swallowing process and lead to dysphagia. People with anxiety may feel tightness in the throat, which makes the swallowing challenging and leads to the symptoms of dysphagia.
Dysphagia is a condition where a person finds it hard to swallow solid and even liquid food. It can cause symptoms like coughing and choking when swallowing food. The most common causes responsible for dysphagia include neurological problems and structural abnormalities in the esophagus.
Management of dysphagia depends on the cause and the severity of the condition. The options include medications, swallowing therapy, esophageal dilation and surgery. Dietary modifications for dysphagia include incorporating easy-to-swallow but nutrient dense foods in your diet.