Dysphagia

Definition of Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a medical term for a condition when a person has difficulty swallowing or cannot swallow at all. Dysphagia can occur at any age, but often occurs in adults.
Further explanation
The symptoms

Symptoms of dysphagia include:

•     Pain when swallowing (odynophagia)
•     Can not or difficult to swallow
•     Food sensation is stuck in the neck or chest
•     Excess saliva
•     Hoarseness
•     Releasing food that has been tried to swallow (regurgitation)
•     Often experience heartburn (burning sensation in the chest) which is generally caused by the rise of stomach acid into the esophagus
•     Food or stomach acid returns to the esophagus
•     Weight loss
•     Coughing or choking when swallowing
•     Must cut food into small pieces to avoid choking

Cause

Dysphagia is usually caused by other health conditions, such as:

•     A condition that affects the nervous system, such as stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis, or dementia
•     Cancer, such as oral cancer or esophageal cancer (esophagus)
•     Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or condition when stomach acid rises to the esophagus (esophagus).

Esophageal dysphagia

Esophageal dysphagia refers to the sensation of food sticking or hanging at the base of the throat when swallowing. Some causes of esophageal dysphagia, including:

•     Akalasia

    This condition occurs when the lower esophageal muscles do not relax as food moves into the stomach. This causes food to carry back to the throat.

•     Diffuse spasm

    This condition produces some high pressure, poor contraction of the esophagus after swallowing. Diffuse spasm affects the involuntary muscles in the lower walls of the esophagus.

•     Esophageal stricture

    A narrow esophagus will hold large pieces of food.

•     Esophageal tumor

    Difficulty swallowing tends to worsen when esophageal tumors appear.

•     Foreign object

    Sometimes, food or other objects can block the throat or part of the esophagus.

•     Esophageal ring

    A thin area of ​​narrowing of the esophagus at the bottom can cause difficulty swallowing solid food.

•     GERD

    Esophageal tissue damage from stomach acid that enters the esophagus can cause spasm or scarring, and narrowing of the esophagus.

•     Eosinophilic esophagitis

    This condition is related to food allergies caused by eosinophils in the esophagus.

•     Scleroderma

    Tissue development that resembles a scar will cause tissue hardening and weaken the lower sphincter of the esophagus.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia

Certain conditions can weaken the throat muscles, making it difficult to move food from the mouth to the throat when swallowing. Someone who experiences this condition can choke, vomit, or cough. This condition can cause pneumonia.

Causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia, including:

•     Nerve disorders

    Certain disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson's disease can cause dysphagia.

•     Neurological damage

    Sudden neurological damage, such as a stroke or brain injury, can affect your ability to swallow.

•     Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum

    Small bags that form and collect food particles in the throat above the esophagus can cause difficulty in swallowing, bad breath, and coughing.

•     Cancer

    Some cancers and some cancer treatments can cause difficulty in swallowing

Diagnosis

Dysphagia is usually a symptom of an illness. The doctor can do several tests to diagnose the cause of dysphagia. These checks include:

•     X-ray examination with barium contrast

    In this imaging test, the patient will be asked to swallow liquid barium before undergoing X-ray radiographs. The X-ray machine will record the shape of the esophagus through which the barium passes.

•     Endoscopy

    A small, flexible camera tube (endoscope) will be inserted into the esophagus through the mouth. Next, the doctor will observe images inside the pharynx and esophagus through the screen.

•     Manometry

    This test measures the time and strength of esophageal contractions, and relaxation of valve muscles.

•     Impedance and pH test

    This test determines the effect of gastric acid reflux in difficulty swallowing.
Treatment

Treatment of dysphagia depends on the type and cause.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia
For oropharyngeal dysphagia, the doctor can refer the patient to a therapist. Your doctor / therapist can recommend a number of treatment options as follows:

•     Exercise coordinates muscles to swallow or stimulates nerves that stimulate the swallowing reflex.
•     Learn swallowing techniques to compensate for dysphagia caused by neurological problems, such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.

Esophageal dysphagia

Treatment approaches for esophageal dysphagia, including:

•     Esophageal dilation

    The doctor can use an endoscope with a special balloon attached, to stretch gently and expand the esophagus.

•     Operation

    Esophageal tumors, achalasia (impaired oesophageal movement), or pharyngoesophageal diverticulum (abnormal pockets in the esophagus), require surgical procedures to improve the esophageal pathways.

•     Drugs

    Difficulty swallowing associated with GERD can be treated with oral medications prescribed to reduce stomach acid.

Severe dysphagia

If swallowing difficulties interfere with eating and drinking, your doctor may recommend the following options:

•     Special liquid diet
•     This treatment can help you maintain your weight and avoid dehydration.
•     Feeding tube
•     In cases of severe dysphagia, feeding tubes that are usually inserted through the nose and into the stomach, can be needed to help the swallowing mechanism that is not functioning normally.

Prevention

Dysphagia cannot be prevented, but there are ways to reduce the risk of difficulty swallowing, namely by eating slowly and chewing food properly. Early detection and effective treatment of GERD can reduce the risk of dysphagia.

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