Зміст
Dysphagia, that is, swallowing disorders, can appear at any period of life and be caused by various factors. However, it should never be ignored, since it often accompanies very serious illnesses.
Dysphagia most often occurs in children and the elderly. It is mistakenly associated with strong emotions or mental disorders, but it usually has nothing to do with them. If you notice this symptom, you should consult a doctor immediately to determine the real cause of the problem.
What is dysphagia?
Swallowing food is one of the main functions of our body. Without it, it would be impossible to digest food and liquids, which would quickly lead to dehydration or exhaustion. Swallowing is an involuntary process and does not require special concentration from us, so we typically do not pay special attention to it. However, it is very complex and involves the coordinated work of many muscles and organs, including: muscles of the face, tongue, throat, esophagus and respiratory muscles. The whole process is controlled by the central nervous system and issues with it typically develop into dysphagia, that is, swallowing disorders. The patient may complain of difficulty swallowing; it often seems that some of the food is stuck in the esophagus.
Dysphagia – causes
The swallowing process occurs in stages – individual phases and pathologies characteristic of their duration are reflected in the corresponding classification:
Oropharyngeal phase. This is the first stage of swallowing, in which the nervous system coordinates the muscles to move food into the esophagus. The most common causes of this type of dysphagia are diseases of the central nervous system, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors. It can also be caused by diabetes, myositis, or cancer – tumors of the larynx and thyroid gland.
Esophageal phase – occurs when food is in the esophagus. The further movement of the workpieces no longer depends on us and occurs involuntarily. Most typically it is caused by mechanical obstruction – cancerous tumors, foreign bodies of the esophagus, the consequences of burns and the use of certain medications.
To correctly diagnose the essence of the problem, you need to carefully look at the symptoms accompanying dysphagia and conduct a series of tests. Swallowing issues are very often associated with cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus and tongue, and can also be caused by other tumors located in the esophagus. In addition, they are typically observed in Parkinson’s disease, myasthenia gravis, Huntington’s chorea and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Dysphagia – symptoms
Although dysphagia is a swallowing disorder, it is also associated with a number of other symptoms. Patients usually complain of:
- hoarseness of voice,
- wheezing,
- hiccups,
- cough is a symptom of issues of the esophagus,
- bad breath associated with food retention,
- pain when swallowing,
- Heartburn is the most common symptom of reflux disease.
Treatment of dysphagia
Treating dysphagia first involves addressing the problem that is causing it. The correct diagnosis turns out to be the most important. If there are tumors near the esophagus, they should be removed, and in the case of gastroesophageal reflux, antacids are used. For severe and complex neurological diseases, it is significant not only to treat the root cause and contact a specialist who deals with nutritional issues. The patient can be helped by making it easier to swallow with dysphagia – prepare food of an appropriate, liquid consistency, surround him with understanding and provide him with psychological comfort.
Dysphagia in children
Children may also suffer from dysphagia. In their case, the causes may be not only neurological disorders, but also issues with the irregular shape of the facial muscles or developmental delays. Dysphagia is especially dangerous in children – unlike adults, it becomes impossible to identify some symptoms, and the baby’s sensitive body becomes dehydrated or exhausted even faster. To prevent serious consequences, you should carefully monitor your baby. What should be of concern is the loss of motility of the lips, tongue and jaw when transitioning to solid foods. If a parent suspects something, they should contact their pediatrician immediately.
Dysphagia in the elderly
Dysphagia often appears with age and is associated with weakness of the muscles involved in swallowing food. In this case, you should take care of the shape of the dishes – their consistency should make it easy to swallow, the portions should not be too large, but their calorie content should be balanced in order to properly feed the patient. Drinking drinks also cause serious problems with dysphagia in older people – they can be thickened to make them easier to swallow. In addition, pharmacies offer special nutritional preparations intended for people with swallowing issues.
