Dysphagia: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Introduction
Food is a vital factor in human life. The body needs food
for its proper regulation. But what if we cannot chew the food or swallowing
the food becomes a deterrent?
Dysphagia is a problem associated with the swallowing of
the food. While facing this issue, a person cannot easily swallow the food or
have to put a little more effort to moves the food through Esophagus.
People often consume food in a hurry when they are busy. In
such cases, they do feel pain while chewing or swallowing food. In this
situation, the condition is acceptable. But constant dysphagia is a matter of
concern that needs medical assistance on time to avoid serious repercussions.
However, dysphagia can develop at any age, but children and
older are mostly affected.
What is Dysphagia?
Facing pain while swallowing or chewing the food is Dysphagia. Generally, the process of “swallow” includes the involvement of different muscular and nerve system. Hence, there are three different types of Dysphagia.
Types of Dysphagia are:
- Oral Dysphagia: In this condition, the problem occurs in the mouth due to tongue weakness that generally happens after stroke, difficulty in chewing food, or transferring the food through Esophagus.
- Pharyngeal Dysphagia: In this condition, the issue occurs in the throat due to a neurological ailment that affects the nervous system.
- Esophageal Dysphagia: in this condition, the real problem is in the Esophagus due to blockage or irritation. In such cases, surgical treatment is the best option.
However, it is also
a factor to note that there is a difference between Odynophagia or Dysphagia.
Both deal with the pain in swallowing.
What Causes Dysphagia?
The problem of Dysphagia develops due to multiple causes.
v
Achalasia: The
lower Esophagus muscle does not relax enough to allow the food into the
stomach.
v
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The
brain disorder, or the nerves in the brain and spine that stops working, leads
to Dysphagia.
v
Diffuse Spasm: The
Esophagus muscles do not coordinate properly.
v
Esophageal
Ring: A smaller part of an Esophagus narrows
itself putting impediments in the passing of the solid food.
v
Eosinophilic Esophagitis: The
esophagus contains white blood cell, that elevates, and affects the
gastrointestinal system, that leads to vomiting and difficulty in swallowing.
v
Stroke:
Stroke is the consequence of dead brain cells that impacts the flow of oxygen
into the brain. And if the brain cell that handles the system of swallowing
gets hindered, it causes Dysphagia.
v
Radiation:
Cancer patients have to go through multiple radiation therapies. Those patients
who take these therapies in the neck and head faces trouble in swallowing the
food causing it into a Dysphagia.
v Esophageal
Cancer: It is a type of cancer that is developed
due to the excess consumption of alcohol or excess amount of smoking or due to
GERD. However, Cancer medicines provider in India is
working effortlessly to make the cancer medicines available at every corner of
the country to help the patients fight with the disease.
Symptoms of Dysphagia:
The following are the symptoms that a person faces while troubling with the Dysphagia:
v
Food getting stuck in the throat.
v
Difficulty in swallowing.
v
Pain while swallowing solid food.
v
Slobber unintentionally.
v
Regurgitation
v
Heartburn
v
Cracked Voice.
v
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
v
Weight loss
v
Avoid solid food that is harder to swallow.
Diagnosis of Dysphagia:
Pain in swallowing that comes into
consideration in rare cases are not a factor of concern. It is general trouble
that a person faces due to an adverse intake of food. The problem can be
resolved by consuming a counter medicines which are available in-home
delivery medicine shop India.
However, if the person encounters the issue
consistently, then the situation becomes a matter of concern, seeking doctors'
help becomes imperative.
A doctor first will try to know the real
reason for the issue by analysing all the symptoms, the duration of the trouble
faced by the patient, and which form of food created a deterrent in swallowing.
- v Swallow Study: Swallow study
is conducted by a speech therapist, who through speech or a video test, tries
to understand the severity or causes of difficulty.
- v Barium swallow test: Barium is a
chemical substance used by the physician to examine the cause of disease inside
the respitory system. It helps in detecting the activity of muscles taking
place in Esophagus in detailed.
- v Endoscopy:
The physician uses a camera inside the Esophagus to detect the real cause of
Dysphagia. If they perceive something serious, as doubt of benefit, they opt
for a biopsy test to find out if the issue is related to cancer.
- v Manometry:
When the muscles in the Esophagus works, it produces pressure, which is
measured by the study of Manometry.
Treatment for Dysphagia:
- Swallowing therapy: The patient learns the new way of engulfing the food and also
follows a few physical exercises that improvise the activity of muscles.
- Diet: Physician, with the help
of a nutritionist, comes out with the combination of food that becomes easier
for the patient to swallow. Also, a healthy diet regulation is imperative for a
healthy body.
- Tube Feeding: If the patient is
suffering through severe pneumonia, malnutrition, or dehydration, the patient
needs to feed through a nasal tube or PEG tube that is implemented in the body
through surgery by making a small incision in the abdomen.
In a few cases, surgical interventions become imperative. Doctors take the help of Dilation or Botulinum toxin that is also known as Botox in the treatment procedure. In these cases, The Esophagus needs to widen up, or the stiff muscles need to loosen up. The mentioned surgical procedure helps in continuing the same.
Conclusion:
The severity of the condition of the patient is determined, the treatment of Dysphagia. The physician has to go through multiple processes for better treatment. Most of the time, Dysphagia develops due to neurological ailments. Hence, the treatment procedure becomes challenging.
