Causes And Treatments For Difficulty Swallowing

Causes And Treatments For Difficulty Swallowing

Swallowing is a unique process that requires good performance of the muscles in the throat, face, tongue, and palate. Presence of a disease, disorder or abnormality in one of these organs will interfere with the process of swallowing. Difficulty swallowing or difficulty in swallowing known as dysphagia or dysphagia . This is usually a sign of problems in the throat or esophagus ( esophageal ) - tube-shaped muscle that moves food and liquid from the back of the mouth to your stomach. 

Although dysphagia can happen to anyone, but generally only occur in the elderly, infants, and those who have problems with the nervous system or brain. There are many causes that can lead to throat or esophagus does not function normally. It could be because of some small things, but some other things that might cause it is a serious disorder. If you have only one or two times only problem is difficult to swallow, not to worry, chances are you do not have a medical problem. But if you have trouble swallowing continuously, chances are you suffer from a serious problem that requires proper handling. 

What causes difficulty swallowing? Under normal conditions, the muscles in the throat and esophagus will squeeze, or contract to move food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach without obstacles. There are two types of problems that can make it difficult for food and liquid to move up into the esophagus, namely:

1. The muscles and nerves that help move food through the throat and esophagus does not work properly. This can happen because:

• Had a stroke, brain or spinal cord injury.
• Problems with the nervous system, such as the syndrome of post-polio , multiple sclerosis , muscular dystrophy , or Parkinson's disease as well. Could also be caused after suffering from diphtheria , syphilis , poisoning , alcohol addiction, as well as hysteria.
• Immune system problems that cause swelling or inflammation, and weakness, such as polymyositis or dermatomyositis .
• Throat spasms. This means that the throat muscles suddenly pressing. Sometimes this can prevent the food to reach the stomach.
• Scleroderma . In this condition, tissue esophagus become hard and narrow. Scleroderma can also make the lower esophageal muscles become weaker, which can cause food and stomach acids back up into the throat and mouth.

2. There is something blocking the throat or esophagus. This may happen because:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When stomach acid up into your esophagus, it can cause ulcers in the esophagus, which can then give rise to a container or a wound. These scars can make your esophagus narrower.
• Esophagitis . It is an inflammation of the esophagus. It can be caused by many things, such as GERD or an infection or because the pill is stuck in the esophagus. Additionally, difficulty swallowing can also be caused by an allergic reaction to certain foods or things in other air.
• Diverticula . It is a small sac that grows on the wall of the esophagus or throat.
• Esophageal tumors. Growth in the esophagus may be cancerous or noncancerous.
• Lymph nodes and tumors pressing your throat.

In addition, dry mouth could make matters dysphagia worse. This is because you may not have enough saliva to help the food from the mouth to enter the esophagus. Dry mouth can be caused by the influence of the consumption of drugs or other health problems. What are the consequences of swallowing difficult? Dysphagia can come and go at any time, mild or severe, or worse than would occur continuously. If you are experiencing dysphagia , maybe you will:

• Food or liquids you can not swallow at swallowing the first trial.
• Vomiting, choking, or cough when you swallow.
• Food or liquid back up into the throat, mouth, or nose after you swallow.
• Feeling like food or liquids are stuck in one or several parts of the throat or chest.
• Pain when swallowing.
• Pain or depression in the chest or heartburn.
• Weight down because you do not get enough food or fluid intake.
•  How diagnosis difficulty swallowing?

If you have difficulty swallowing, the first doctor intervenes is asking about the symptoms you are experiencing, then check your. Doctors also want to know if you have trouble swallowing solid food, liquid, or both. Doctors also want to know in which part do you think of food or liquid that stuck, whether and how long you have been experiencing heartburn (a burning sensation in the abdomen), and how long you have difficulty swallowing. Doctors usually will also check your reflexes and muscle strength. After that, maybe you would be well advised to specialist doctors that follows:

• Otolaryngologist, a specialist in ear problems, nose, and throat (ENT)
• Gastroenterologist, a specialist in digestive system problems
• Neurologist, a specialist in brain matter, spinal cord, and nervous system
• Speech-language pathologist, who will evaluate and find your swallowing problems

To help find the cause of dysphagia that you are experiencing, you may require one or several examinations, among others:

• X-ray (radiograph). This will give the image the neck or chest.
• Barium swallow. This is a special x-ray treatment for throat and esophagus. Previously you will be asked to drink liquid called barium lime. Barium will be superimposed on the inside of the throat so that it would be optimal to X-rays.
• Fluoroscopy. This test uses a type of barium swallow, and will be recorded.
• Laryngoscopy. Using the tube tips containing the illuminated fiber optic camera is inserted through the nose into the back of the throat.
• Esophagoscopy or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. During this test, a thin and flexible instrument called a scope is placed in the mouth and down the throat to see the esophagus and possibly the intestinal and upper abdomen. Sometimes a small piece of tissue is removed for biopsy. A biopsy is a test that checks the cells of inflammation or cancer.
• Manometry. During this test, a small tube is placed into your esophagus. Tube attached to a computer that measures the pressure in your throat when you swallow.
• pH monitoring, which will test how often acid from the stomach into the esophagus and how long it stayed there.

How to care difficulty swallowing?

Treatment will depend on what is causing dysphagia you. Treatment for dysphagia include:

• Exercises for the muscles to swallow. If you have any problems with the brain, nerves, or muscles, you may need to do exercises to train the muscles to work together to help swallow. You also may need to learn how to good posture or how to put food in his mouth in order to swallow either.
• Changing the food you eat. Doctor may advise you to avoid or change certain types of food and fluids to make swallowing easier.
• Dilation (widening). In this treatment, the device is placed into your throat, and with care will expand the narrow regions in the throat. Perhaps this kind of treatment you should do some time.
• Endoscopy. In some cases, a long, thin scope can be used to grab objects that are stuck in the esophagus.
• Atomized stuck food with a chemical agent such as papain , that lump can continue down the food into the stomach.
• Surgery. If you have something blocking your esophagus (such as a tumor or diverticula), you may need surgery to remove it. Surgery is also sometimes used in people who have problems that affect esophageal muscle (achalasia).
• Drugs. If you are experiencing dysphagia related to GERD, heat in the stomach, or esophagitis , prescription medications can help prevent stomach acid into the esophagus. Infections of the esophagus are often treated with antibiotic drugs.