Medication
How to Treat Dysphagia
- Method 1 Method 1 of 3: Diagnosing Dysphagia Download Article. Visit your doctor if you notice symptoms of dysphagia. ...
- Method 2 Method 2 of 3: Getting Medical Treatment Download Article. Get emergency medical care if you’re having trouble breathing. ...
- Method 3 Method 3 of 3: Making Dietary Changes Download Article. ...
Procedures
Treatment usually depends on the cause and type of dysphagia. The type of dysphagia you have can usually be diagnosed after testing your swallowing ability and examining your oesophagus. Many cases of dysphagia can be improved with treatment, but a cure isn't always possible.
Therapy
Phase 2: The Oral Transit Phase of the Swallow
- Oral Transit Phase begins when the tongue begins posterior movement of the bolus
- Food on anterior tongue
- Bolus is moved posteriorly due to the midline of the tongue sequentially squeezing against the hard palate
- Anterior to posterior rolling action of the midline of the tongue
Nutrition
Treatments for oesophageal dysphagia
- Medication. Depending on the cause, it may be possible to treat oesophageal dysphagia with medication. ...
- Botox. Botox can sometimes be used to treat achalasia, a condition where the muscles in the oesophagus become too stiff to allow food and liquid to enter the stomach.
- Surgery. Other cases of oesophageal dysphagia can usually be treated with surgery. ...
Specialist To Consult
How to treat dysphagia naturally?
Can dysphagia be corrected?
What are the four phases of swallowing?
How to treat dysphagia?
Will dysphagia go away on its own?
Treatment depends on the type of swallowing problem you have. Sometimes, a swallowing problem will resolve itself without treatment.
Can you overcome dysphagia?
Outside of a few special cases, dysphagia is often temporary and most dysphagic stroke survivors recover fully. Working with experts, like dieticians and speech pathologists, can help survivors manage their dysphagia and improve their ability to swallow safely.
Is dysphagia a long term condition?
You may have trouble moving food or liquid from your mouth to your esophagus or down to your stomach. You may have the problem when you eat, drink, or any time you try to swallow. Dysphagia is considered chronic when it continues longer than a few months.
What is the solution for dysphagia?
Try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Cut your food into smaller pieces, chew food thoroughly and eat more slowly. If you have difficulty swallowing liquids, there are products you can buy to thicken liquids. Trying foods with different textures to see if some cause you more trouble.
How does dysphagia start?
How does dysphagia occur? Dysphagia occurs when there is a problem with the neural control or the structures involved in any part of the swallowing process. Weak tongue or cheek muscles may make it hard to move food around in the mouth for chewing.
How long can you live with dysphagia?
Overall Group Analysis. The median survival of the study population was 159 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 72, 276 days), estimated 30-day mortality was 27%, 90-day mortality 42%, and 1-year mortality 62%.
What are the 4 stages of dysphagia?
A swallow has four phases: oral preparatory, oral propulsive, pharyngeal and esophageal.
Does dysphagia get worse?
Dysphagia can come and go, be mild or severe, or get worse over time. If you have dysphagia, you may: Have problems getting food or liquids to go down on the first try. Gag, choke, or cough when you swallow.
What type of doctor treats dysphagia?
If swallowing is difficult on a regular basis, you should see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist. People normally swallow hundreds of times a day to eat solids, drink liquids, and swallow the normal saliva and mucus that the body produces.
Is dysphagia a terminal?
Swallowing difficulties are common at the end of life and dysphagia, a severe swallowing difficulty, is a sign that a person's disease is at end stage. If a person is having swallowing problems, we can refer them to a speech pathologist for a swallowing assessment and guidance for appropriate interventions.
What are the stages of dysphagia?
Healthcare providers describe it in 3 phases:Oral preparatory phase. During this phase, you chew your food to a size, shape, and consistency that can be swallowed. ... Pharyngeal phase. Here, the muscles of your pharynx contract in sequence. ... Esophageal phase.
How common is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is a common condition; it affects approximately 13.5% of the general population but is more common in seniors. As more people live to older ages, the incidence of dysphagia is increasing. It affects 19-33% of individuals older than 80 years-of-age, and up to 50% of individuals living in a nursing home.
What are 4 complications of dysphagia?
ComplicationsMalnutrition, weight loss and dehydration. Dysphagia can make it difficult to take in enough nourishment and fluids.Aspiration pneumonia. Food or liquid entering the airway during attempts to swallow can cause aspiration pneumonia as a result of the food introducing bacteria into the lungs.Choking.
What does dysphagia feel like?
Difficulty with swallowing is the feeling that food or liquid is stuck in the throat or at any point before the food enters the stomach. This problem is also called dysphagia.
What are three disorders that cause dysphagia?
Causes of dysphagia a condition that affects the nervous system, such as a stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis or dementia. cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer. gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus.
How fast does dysphagia progress?
Benign strictures typically progress slowly (over a period of months to years) and are associated with minimal weight loss. Malignant esophageal strictures usually cause rapidly progressing dysphagia (over a period of weeks to months) with substantial weight loss.
What are the 2 types of dysphagia?
Dysphagia has two main types: structural dysphagia, which results from changes to the actual structure of your esophagus, or dysphagia caused by esophageal motility (movement) issues. In some cases, dysphagia results from certain changes to the physical structure of the esophagus.
How do you eat with dysphagia?
On a dysphagia soft diet you may eat foods that are soft and moist. Add broth, melted butter or soft margarine, gravy, sauces, milk, or juice to your foods for extra moisture. Foods that are not soft or moist enough may need to be diced, minced, finely shaved, or mashed.
Can dysphagia be caused by anxiety?
Some cases of dysphagia are due to structural abnormalities or disease, and some are considered functional, where there is no apparent physical cause. Psychiatric reasons for dysphagia include anxiety disorders, phobias, somatic symptom disorder, and more.
How is dysphagia diagnosed?
A videofluoroscopy assesses your swallowing ability. It takes place in the X-ray department and provides a moving image of your swallowing in real time. You'll be asked to swallow different types of food and drink of different consistencies, mixed with a non-toxic liquid called barium that shows up on X-rays.
Can dysphagia be cured with medication?
Oropharyngeal dysphagia can be difficult to treat if it's caused by a condition that affects the nervous system. This is because these problems can't usually be corrected using medication or surgery.
How do you regain swallowing reflex?
Swallowing exercises can increase strength, mobility, and control of these muscles. Over time, this may help you to swallow normally again. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) may prescribe specific swallowing exercises to improve your swallowing. The specific exercises will depend on your swallowing problem.
Is dysphagia considered a disability?
It was shown that dysphagia affects all aspects of life as expressed by reduction in self-esteem (N = 13), security (N = 16), work capacity (N = 8), exercise (N = 7), and leisure time (N = 6). Esophageal dysphagia may therefore be regarded as a handicap when assessed using the DGH code described in this study.
Is esophageal dysphagia serious?
Dysphagia can be painful. In some cases, swallowing is impossible. Occasional difficulty swallowing, such as when you eat too fast or don't chew your food well enough, usually isn't cause for concern. But persistent dysphagia can be a serious medical condition requiring treatment.
Expert Q&A
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Warning
If you accidentally inhale food because you can’t swallow it, you may develop pneumonia. Get treatment so that you’re okay. [16] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
About This Article
This article was medically reviewed by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH and by wikiHow staff writer, Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA. Dr. Erik Kramer is a Primary Care Physician at the University of Colorado, specializing in internal medicine, diabetes, and weight management.
1. Exercises
You can learn how to swallow correctly. A speech therapist can teach you techniques that will strengthen your throat muscles and allow you to swallow successfully.
2. Diet Changes
Your gastroenterologist may recommend eliminating foods that are hard to swallow and focusing on those that are easy to swallow. They may refer you to a dietician to ensure that you’re still eating a balanced diet with a variety of foods.
3. Medication
Medication for dysphagia will be used to treat its underlying cause. Esophageal dysphagia can be caused by a variety of conditions including foreign bodies, radiation therapy, and GERD.
4. Surgery
Your gastroenterologist may recommend surgery if therapy and medication don’t improve or resolve your dysphagia. If your dysphagia is caused by an obstruction, surgery can be used to remove it. If your dysphagia is being caused by a narrowed esophagus, a stent can be placed to open it up.
Overview
Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that is often noted in stroke survivors. It can affect the oral and/or pharyngeal phase of swallowing.
Possible Causes
Many disorders, diseases and conditions can cause trouble swallowing. Doctors separate swallowing problems into three types:
Care and Treatment
Diagnostic tests for swallowing disorders vary. Typical tests include:
When to Call the Doctor
You should see your doctor to determine the cause of your swallowing difficulties. Call a doctor right away if you’re also having trouble breathing or think something might be stuck in your throat. If you have sudden muscle weakness or paralysis and can’t swallow at all, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Overview
The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects your mouth and your stomach. Rings of muscle (sphincters) in the upper and lower portions contract and relax to allow food and liquid to pass.
Causes
Swallowing is complex, involving many muscles and nerves. Any condition that weakens or damages the muscles and nerves used for swallowing or leads to a narrowing of the back of the throat or esophagus can cause dysphagia.
Complications
Malnutrition, weight loss and dehydration. Dysphagia can make it difficult to take in enough nourishment and fluids.
Prevention
Although swallowing difficulties can't be prevented, you can reduce your risk of occasional difficulty swallowing by eating slowly and chewing your food well. However, if you have signs or symptoms of dysphagia, see your health care provider.
Medication
Medication is one of the first treatments for dysphagia related to reflux. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medications that reduce stomach acids and relieve symptoms of GERD. They can also help heal erosion of the esophagus caused by reflux.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes can help make eating and swallowing more comfortable. It’s important to eliminate alcoholic beverages and nicotine products from your life. Smoking and alcohol can irritate your already compromised esophagus and they can increase the likelihood of heartburn.
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary for patients dealing with severe reflux that is unresponsive to medication and lifestyle changes. Some surgical procedures used to treat GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal strictures can also reduce or eliminate episodes of dysphagia. These procedures include:
Neurological Causes
The most common neurological conditions associated with dysphagia include:
Symptoms and Complications
Swallowing difficulties can result in excess production of saliva, drooling, coughing or choking during eating, and even difficulty speaking or a hoarse voice. An infection of the lungs called aspiration pneumonia may also occur, as can malnutrition and dehydration.
Goals of Exercises
Therapies designed to improve swallowing are focused on strengthening muscles and building coordination of the nerves and muscles involved in swallowing. Exercising your swallowing muscles is the best way to improve your ability to swallow.
A Word From Verywell
If you or a loved one has dysphagia from a neurological cause, these exercises can improve swallowing and help prevent aspiration and malnutrition.
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Complications
- Your health care provider will likely ask you for a description and history of your swallowing difficulties, perform a physical examination, and use various tests to find the cause of your swallowing problem. Tests can include: 1. X-ray with a contrast material (barium X-ray). You drin…
Prevention