What is swallowing like

Your GP will assess you and may refer you for further tests. Treating dysphagia Treatment usually depends on the cause and type of dysphagia. Treatments for dysphagia include: speech and language therapy to help people recover their swallowing with special exercises and techniques changing the consistency of food and liquids to make them safer to swallow other forms of feeding — such as tube feeding through the nose or stomach surgery to widen the oesophagus, by stretching it or inserting a plastic or metal tube stent Read more about treating dysphagia.

Causes of dysphagia Dysphagia is usually caused by another health condition, such as: 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 Children can also have dysphagia as a result of a developmental or learning disability, such as cerebral palsy.

Complications of dysphagia Dysphagia can sometimes lead to further problems. Warning signs of aspiration pneumonia include: a wet, gurgly voice while eating or drinking coughing while eating or drinking difficulty breathing — breathing may be rapid and shallow If you, or someone you care for, have been diagnosed with dysphagia and you develop these symptoms, contact your treatment team immediately, or call NHS Dysphagia in children If children with long-term dysphagia aren't eating enough, they may not get the essential nutrients they need for physical and mental development.

Esophagus The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects your mouth and your stomach. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Fass R. Approach to the evaluation of dysphagia in adults. Accessed Sept. Ferri FF.

In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Elsevier; Lembo AJ. Oropharyngeal dysphagia: Clinical features, diagnosis, and management. American College of Gastroenterology. Panebianco M. These are small sacs in the walls of the esophagus or the throat. Esophageal tumors. These growths in the esophagus may be cancerous or not cancerous.

Masses outside the esophagus, such as lymph nodes , tumors, or bone spurs on the vertebrae that press on your esophagus. What are the symptoms? 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. Have food or liquids come back up through your throat, mouth, or nose after you swallow.

Feel like foods or liquids are stuck in some part of your throat or chest. Have pain when you swallow. Have pain or pressure in your chest or have heartburn. Lose weight because you are not getting enough food or liquid. How is dysphagia diagnosed? Your doctor may then refer you to one of the following specialists: An otolaryngologist , who treats ear, nose, and throat problems A gastroenterologist , who treats problems of the digestive system A neurologist , who treats problems of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system A speech-language pathologist , who evaluates and treats swallowing problems To help find the cause of your dysphagia, you may need one or more tests, including: X-rays.

These provide pictures of your neck or chest. A barium swallow. This is an X-ray of the throat and esophagus. Before the X-ray, you will drink a chalky liquid called barium. Barium coats the inside of your esophagus so that it shows up better on an X-ray. This test uses a type of barium swallow that allows your swallowing to be videotaped.

This test looks at the back of your throat, using either a mirror or a fiber-optic scope. Esophagoscopy or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. During these tests, a thin, flexible instrument called a scope is placed in your mouth and down your throat to look at your esophagus and perhaps your stomach and upper intestines. Sometimes a small piece of tissue is removed for a biopsy.

A biopsy is a test that checks for inflammation or cancer cells. During this test, a small tube is placed down your esophagus.

The tube is attached to a computer that measures the pressure in your esophagus as you swallow. What you consume on a daily basis — from certain foods to other substances — can change the…. Yes, you can get a sexually transmitted disease STD from giving or getting a hand job. Other forms of manual stimulation — as well as oral and…. Does pineapple change how your sperm tastes? How does sperm count change by age?

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