Difficulty swallowing is also called dysphagia.
It is the feeling that food or liquid is lodged in the throat or at any point before the food enters the stomach. There is more effort to move the food from the mouth. It usually denotes a problem with the throat or the oesophagus, the muscular passageway that moves food from the mouth to the stomach. Difficulty swallowing may occur to anyone but is most common in babies, older adults, diabetics and people with nervous system disorders.
Swallowing is a complex act that involves chewing food and moving it to the back of the mouth to be brought down the oesophagus and eventually to the stomach, where it is further digested. Numerous nerves work together from the mouth, throat and oesophagus. Swallowing is primarilyvoluntary in the oral phase but after initial swallowing, several different muscles will involuntarily contract allowing food to pass.
Causes of Difficulty Swallowing
The two main causes of difficulty swallowing are blockage in the throat and nerve and muscular problems in the throat and oesophagus. Stress and anxiety is also known to create difficulty swallowing.
- Throat or oesophageal blockage
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Esophagitis
- Diverticula
- Oesophageal tumours
- Presence of masses outside the oesophagus
- Presence of foreign bodies in the oesophagus
- Nerve and muscular problems in the throat and oesophagus:
- Oesophageal spasms
- Scleroderma
- Recent brain or spinal cord injury
- Nerve problems
- Immune system problems
Signs and Symptoms of Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing is not a medical condition on its own but rather may be a symptom of an underlying problem, however, it may have accompanying symptoms to watch out for. In cases like these, a keen eye for signs and symptoms would be very helpful in determining the exact cause of dysphagia. The following symptoms are commonly associated with difficulty swallowing:
- Pain while swallowing or unable to swallow completely
- Feeling that food is stuck in the throat or in the chest
- Frequent heartburn and acid reflux leading to sour taste in the mouth
- Regurgitation
- Coughing or gagging when swallowing
- Drooling
- Hoarseness of voice
- Unexpected weigh loss
- In infants and children: refusal to eat, tensing while eating, food and liquid leakage from the mouth and prolonged feeding times
Treatment for Difficulty Swallowing
In some cases, difficulty swallowing is not a medical concern and occurs simply as a result of eating habits. But if difficulty swallowing occurs in multiple occasions, it may signify an underlying medical cause that would require treatment. The following treatments are usually used to treat difficult swallowing:
- For cases of foreign objects in the oesophagus, follow first aid protocol for such scenario.
- Certain medications may help relax oesophageal muscles.
- Certain exercises to help synchronize swallowing muscles.
- Learn swallowing techniques to help swallow without difficulties.
- For severe cases, surgery or special liquid diets may be necessary.
First aid courses teach first aiders to have a keen eye for medical conditions that may lead to problems. Early recognition of symptoms can significantly help in reducing risks of complications from developing. The importance of being observant with symptoms such as difficulty swallowing may help when taking first aid courses.