Dysphagia Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors & Treatment | Diseases List A-Z

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a condition that makes sufferers have difficulty swallowing. This condition can make sufferers take a long time and extra effort to swallow. Painful feelings when swallowing can also be felt to the point of making it impossible to swallow.

In most cases, dysphagia can also cause a person’s appetite to decrease, even being lazy to eat food. As a result, the body does not get enough nutrition. Do not underestimate this condition, because if it occurs for a long time, it can indicate a serious medical condition and requires further treatment.

Symptoms of Dysphagia

Under normal circumstances, a person rarely chokes while eating. Although food can get stuck in the esophagus for a while, after that it can flow smoothly again easily. On the other hand, if someone has trouble swallowing, of course this can be dangerous. Well, there are several symptoms that arise if you have dysphagia. Some of the symptoms include:

• Difficulty swallowing food and drink.
• Pain when swallowing.
• Food feels stuck in the throat or chest.
• Choking or coughing when eating and drinking.
• Drooling continuously.
• Weight loss for no apparent reason.
• Food that has been swallowed is vomited back up.
• The feeling of stomach acid rising into the throat.
• Frequent heartburn.
• The voice becomes hoarse.
• Difficulty breathing while eating.

Causes of Dysphagia

Most cases of dysphagia occur in the elderly and infants, or those with disorders of the brain and nervous system. The main cause of this disease is disorders of the muscles and nerves in the throat area or objects that block the esophagus. In addition, the following conditions can also cause dysphagia:

• Contractions or spasms of the esophageal muscles that occur suddenly.
• Sores or narrowing of the esophagus due to stomach acid.
• Inflammation of the esophagus due to stomach acid or infection (esophagitis).
• Scleroderma or hardening and narrowing of the tissue in the esophagus, as well as weakness of the muscles below the esophagus.
• Diverticula or small sacs in the wall of the esophagus or throat.
• Esophageal tumors can be either benign or malignant.

In addition, there are two types of dysphagia that need to be known along with their causes, namely:

1. Esophageal Dysphagia

This type of dysphagia is indicated by the sensation of food sticking or stuck in the throat or chest after swallowing. Some causes of esophageal dysphagia include:

• Achalasia.
• Diffuse spasms.
• Esophageal stricture.
• Esophageal tumor.
• There is a foreign object in the throat.
• Narrowing in the esophagus.
• GERD.
• Eosinophilic esophagitis.
• Scleroderma.
• Radiation therapy.

2. Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

This condition is caused by weakening of the throat muscles. So, the body has difficulty moving food from the mouth to the throat and esophagus when swallowing. You may choke, vomit, or even cough when swallowing food or drink. If left untreated, pneumonia can occur.

The causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia are:

• Neurological disorders.
• Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum.
• Cancer.

Dysphagia Risk Factors

There are at least several risk factors that can increase the chances of developing dysphagia. If you have one or more of these risk factors, it’s a good idea to be careful. Some of these risk factors include:

• Elderly people due to certain conditions such as stroke or Parkinson’s.
• People with certain nervous system disorders.
• Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and stroke.
• Nervous system disorders, such as post-polio syndrome, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or Parkinson’s disease.
• Immune system disorders such as dermatomyositis which cause swelling and inflammation.

Diagnosis Dysphagia

The doctor will diagnose the cause of dysphagia by conducting a medical interview, physical examination and supporting examinations. Examinations that can support the diagnosis of this disease include:

• X-ray, to see if there are any changes in the shape of the esophagus.
• Dynamic swallowing study to determine whether the coordination of the mouth and throat muscles is good or not when the sufferer swallows food.
• Endoscopy to further examine the condition of the esophagus.
• Manometry or esophageal muscle test.
• CT scan to determine the cause of dysphagia.

Complications of Dysphagia

Dysphagia that is left untreated can lead to dangerous complications. One of the most common problems is choking on food because it enters the esophagus and blocks the airway. If left untreated, it can lead to chest infections, such as aspiration pneumonia. This disorder requires immediate medical attention.

Some symptoms of aspiration pneumonia are:

• Making a gargling sound when eating or drinking.
• Frequent coughing when eating or drinking.
• Difficulty breathing may be rapid and shallow breathing.

Some other complications that can occur are:

• Malnutrition: This problem occurs in people who are not aware that they have dysphagia, so they do not get treatment. As a result, various important nutrients in the body are not met properly.
• Dehydration: Difficulty swallowing can make someone lazy to drink. That way, the fluids in the body are not sufficient which eventually causes dehydration. If left untreated, bigger problems can occur.

Dysphagia Treatment

Some efforts to overcome dysphagia include:

• Replace the food consumed.
• Widening the esophagus area with a special instrument (dilation).
• Surgery if there is a blockage in the esophagus, such as a tumor or diverticula.
• If dysphagia is caused by stomach acid, the doctor will prescribe medication to prevent stomach acid from rising.
• Antibiotic drugs to treat bacterial infections in the esophagus.

The treatment also depends on the type of dysphagia that attacks. Here is the explanation:

1. Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

This swallowing disorder often occurs due to neurological problems. However, providing effective treatment can be a challenge. Well, here are some treatments that are usually done:

• Swallowing therapy: This treatment is usually done with a speech and language therapist. The sufferer will learn how to swallow properly so that it does not cause discomfort. Exercises can also help to improve the muscles and how the part responds.
• Diet: Make sure to eat some foods and fluids that are easy to swallow. However, make sure to also maintain a balanced diet.
• Tube feeding: If a person is at risk of complications, tube feeding may be necessary. This way, malnutrition and dehydration can be avoided.

2. Esophageal Dysphagia

To overcome this problem, surgical intervention is usually needed. Here are some actions that can be done:

• Dilation: This method is done by widening the esophagus. The method is to insert a small balloon, then inflate it to make the esophagus wider.
• Botulinum toxin (Botox): This method is done if the muscles in the esophagus become stiff. Botulinum toxin is able to paralyze stiff muscles, so that the narrowing is reduced.
• Surgery: If dysphagia is caused by cancer, then the most likely treatment is surgery to remove the tumor.

Dysphagia Prevention

There are at least several things that can be done to prevent dysphagia, such as:

• Change your eating patterns into small portions but often.
• Cut food into small pieces and eat slowly.
• Try foods with different textures to see which foods cause dysphagia.
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine which can worsen heartburn.

When to See a Doctor?

Contact a doctor immediately for the best advice if you experience symptoms of difficulty swallowing. Especially if accompanied by the symptoms above. Depending on the cause, the referrals made may vary. Some service providers that can be met are ENT specialists, gastroenterologists, and neurologists.