About 45% of people over the age of 70 suffer from dysphagia, which is often related to other diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, senile dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Dysphagia: what is it
What is dysphafia? Dysphagia, which is difficulty swallowing, can be painless or painful. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, eating and drinking can be annoying, difficult or impossible. If dysphagia is accompanied by pain, doctors often refer to it as odynophagia.
The Mild swallowing disorders are relatively common. Tonsils, colds and flu can cause it. Older people are especially affected.
Dysphagia: symptoms
The symptoms of dysphagia can vary depending on the case and severity. The following symptoms characterize a swallowing disorder:
Feeling of pressure or lump in the throat. Gagging on swallowing. Coughing while eating. Gurgling of food that has already been swallowed. This occurs especially when there is a lump or diverticulum in the esophagus. Increased salivation. In extreme cases it is impossible to eat.
How does a swallowing disorder manifest itself?
A swallowing disorder manifests itself with different problems when trying to swallow or soon after. Difficulties in both drinking and eating may be experienced.
When symptoms appear is crucial to the diagnosis. Oropharyngeal dysphagia causes complications during the act of swallowing, on the other hand, in esophageal dysphagia the symptoms take a few seconds to appear.
If you suffer from any difficulty of this type, it is always advisable to consult a doctor. Sometimes there are harmless triggers that can be fixed quickly. An exam offers the opportunity to get to the bottom of the cause and treat any underlying disease, if necessary.
What are the causes of dysphagia?
Although dysphagia can appear suddenly, the causes have often been working in the background for a long time. The act of swallowing is a complex process that involves more than 30 nerves and muscles. It is the only way that food can be transported from the mouth to the stomach. The sophisticated mechanism may fail due to neurological diseases, tumors or inflammation, among other things. Psychological factors also play a role in the swallowing process and can lead to dysphagia.
Dysphagia can have many reasons. The following physical causes may make dysphagia or swallowing disorders possible:
Lesions and tumors in the oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus. Disorders of the motor innervation of the muscles involved in the swallowing process. Hyposalivation with dehydration of the oral mucosa. Various autoimmune processes. Malfunction of the muscles of the tongue and floor of the mouth.Abscesses, such as a retrotonsillar abscess.Inflammations of all kinds, such as those caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.Malocclusion or ill-fitting dental prostheses.Various diseases of the esophagus, such as achalasia, diverticula, esophagitis or esophageal stricture.Disorders of the thyroid, such as thyroiditis or goiter.
The following neurological diseases, among others, can be identified as neurological causes of a swallowing disorder or dysphagia:
Dystonia (involuntary muscle contractions). Parkinson’s disease. Multiple sclerosis. Dementia. Stroke. Myasthenia gravis. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Traumatic brain injury. Other neurodegenerative diseases
Dysphagia, anxiety… can there be psychological causes?
Dysphagia can also have psychological or psychosomatic causes. In this case, doctors speak of psychogenic dysphagia. In principle, possible physical and neurological causes are always examined first before considering psychological reasons.
Psychological dysphagia often occurs in the context of “globus pharyngeal” syndrome (formerly called “bolus” or “globus hysterica”, which is the persistent or intermittent sensation of having a foreign body in the throat, without an underlying organic cause). justify). In such cases, generally it is useful to consult a psychotherapist.
Dysphagia: treatment
Treatment options for dysphagia depend entirely on the causes. Your doctor will first determine if the cause is physical or psychological. Then he will prescribe the treatment.
In the worst case, when you can no longer eat or drink due to dysphagia, a nasogastric tube may be placed which is inserted through the nose, or a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube, which is inserted through the abdominal wall.
In less severe cases, there are several treatment options. which can be used at any stage of swallowing, whether preoral, oral, pharyngeal or esophageal.
Corresponding therapeutic interventions take the form of speech and swallowing therapy. The main objective is restore sensitivity in the mouth and work the various protective reflexes, such as gagging, coughing or swallowing.
Massages, motor exercises of muscle groups, thermal stimulation, changes in eating posture, diet and food consistency can be used. Blending food makes it easier to eat.
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Tips to improve swallowing
Make your food as appetizing as possible, thus stimulating the flow of salivaSitting up straight for 20 minutes after eating can reduce the risk of aspiration.Take plenty of time to eat and avoid radio, television and conversationsStop eating if you have signs of aspiration, such as a hoarse voice or coughKeep a dish diary, listing all the foods and liquids you tolerate and don’t tolerate well.
5 home remedies for mild dysphagia
In many cases, acute swallowing problems caused by a viral infection do not require drug treatment. They usually go away on their own once the swelling has healed. If you want to get relief, you can use home remedies.
1. Drink a lot
If you suffer from swallowing difficulties, you should make sure that you drink at least two liters of water a day. The liquid helps to moisten the mucous membranes attacked by inflammation.
The infusions of sage or thyme They not only hydrate, but also have an antiseptic and soothing effect on an irritated throat. The warm milk with honey soothes irritated mucous membranes.
2. Gargle with salt water or sage infusion
If you want to alleviate your swallowing problems with home remedies, you can also gargle with salt water.
Simply dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Gargling with sage infusion is even better, because it has an anti-inflammatory effect.
3. Steam inhalation with salt water
Steam inhalation with salt water is also beneficial for a sore throat. This method is also used to better moisten the mucous membranes of the throat and facilitate swallowing. Also, hot steam has an expectorant effect.
4. Heat has an expectorant effect
The heat stimulates blood circulation and has a relaxing and expectorant effect. This will ease the pain. The easiest way to keep your neck warm and warm is with a scarf.
The warm wraps for the neck are another way to combat swallowing difficulties through home remedies. You can moisten a cloth with infusion of chamomile, thyme or sage and wrap it around your neck. To keep the heat in longer, wrap a second towel or scarf around the first cloth. The calorific effect lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.
5. Cold compresses with quark help with swallowing difficulties
Some prefer cold wraps, which reduce inflammation. The quark-type fresh cheese is very suitable for cold wraps, since it it does not take body temperature as quickly as water. The quark is spread out on a cloth, which is turned inside out once and worn around the neck like a scarf. You can also use cold gel packs.
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