What is dysphagia? Symptoms + treatment

**Dysphagia** is a problem or difficulty in swallowing food or liquids, which can be a sign of a serious disorder in the digestive system or the nervous system.... Many people may suffer from dysphagia and temporarily affect the quality of life of a person, and in some cases it affects this chronic problem.. Getting to know the symptoms and causes of dysphagia is an important step. In the timely diagnosis and prevention of complications such as malnutrition, weight loss or food entering the lungs.. In this article from the Parla Gastroenterology and Liver Clinic, we will fully examine ** What is dysphagia, what are its symptoms, what are its causes, and if you have a solution to treat it. dysphagia Symptoms of dysphagia are usually associated with difficulty in swallowing food or liquids and may appear as a feeling of food getting stuck, pain when swallowing or coughing and choking.. - Pain when swallowing (odynophagia) - Coughing or choking when eating or drinking - Inability to start swallowing - Regurgitation of food or liquids from the mouth or nose - Weight loss and malnutrition without specific cause - Voice change or snoring after eating - The need to chew or swallow more than usual - 🔴 bad breath caused by leftover food - 🔴 Watering more than usual Dysphagia is a problem that, although it seems simple at first, can be a sign of more serious disorders in the body... Ignoring it can lead to complications such as malnutrition, reduced quality of life, or even the risk of suffocation... Early diagnosis, visiting a specialist doctor, and following up on treatment play an essential role in controlling this disorder... Knowing the symptoms and causes of dysphagia is an important step in preventing its long-term complications and can help maintain health and peace in everyday life. What is dysphagia?... Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing is a medical symptom that can occur for many reasons and should not be ignored... Esophagus... Common causes include muscle disorders such as myasthenia gravis or muscular dystrophy, neurological diseases such as stroke, Parkinson's, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as brain or spinal cord injuries... Congenital and structural abnormalities may also cause dysphagia. Reflux or foreign body sticking** is also an important cause of dysphagia. Also, some patients may suffer from functional dysphagia due to **anxiety or mental disorders** in which no specific physical cause can be found.. of dysphagia Dysphagia is generally divided into two main types: **Oropharyngeal Dysphagia** and **Esophageal Dysphagia**... These two types are classified based on the location of the disturbance in the swallowing process, and each has its own causes, symptoms and treatments... ### ✅ 1... Oropharyngeal Dysphagia This type of dysphagia occurs when the problem is in the **initial stage of swallowing** and in the mouth or throat area.. that is, where the person tries to direct food from the mouth to the throat but has difficulty in this process.... This type of dysphagia occurs at **the stage when food enters the esophagus and moves towards the stomach... In this case, the person may feel that the food is stuck in the throat or chest or does not go down. Knowing the type of dysphagia helps the doctor to choose the appropriate diagnosis and treatment method. Diagnosing dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) requires a careful examination by a gastroenterologist or an ear, nose and throat specialist. duration The problem and aggravating or alleviating factors are examined. ✅ **Upper endoscopy (EGD):** Direct examination inside the esophagus, stomach and duodenum to find ulcers, strictures or masses..... ✅ **Swallowing fluoroscopy with barium:** Imaging of the swallowing path using a contrast agent to check for abnormal movements or obstruction... Imaging to accurately observe the different stages of swallowing, especially in patients with neurological problems... Ai:** To investigate possible neurological causes or tumors around the esophagus and pharynx.... Using these advanced diagnostic methods, doctors can identify the exact cause of dysphagia and initiate appropriate treatment... loss, or aspiration (food entering the lungs)... **Treatment of dysphagia** Dysphagia treatment depends on the underlying cause. The main goal of treatment is to facilitate the swallowing process, prevent food from entering the respiratory tract, and prevent complications such as weight loss, malnutrition, and aspiration pneumonia. Medication: ** If dysphagia is caused by gastric reflux or inflammation of the esophagus, medications such as proton pump inhibitors, or muscle pump inhibitors, reduce muscle pump inhibitors or PPIs. They are spasms. It is prescribed for patients with Neurological disorders, drugs to improve nerve function or reduce spasms may be useful.... ✅ **Speech and swallowing rehabilitation:** Speech therapists are very effective for patients by training them in special swallowing techniques, changing the position of the head while eating and strengthening the muscles of the mouth and throat. It is necessary to dilate the esophagus with a balloon, cut the muscle (myotomy) or remove the lesion with endoscopy or surgery.... ✅ **Treatment of neurological diseases such as dysphagia:** Treatment of neurological diseases such as dysphagia:** Parkinson's or stroke, rehabilitation support treatment and in advanced cases the use of a feeding tube (NG Tube or PEG) is suggested... Dysphagia treatment should be done by a multispecialty team including a doctor, Talk to the therapist and nutritionist to get the best results....Early diagnosis and timely action play an important role in returning the quality of life of dangerous patients. be**.... especially in elderly people or patients with neurological diseases, dysphagia can be life-threatening and needs to be diagnosed and treated quickly.... **Does dysphagia also happen in children?** **Yes**, dysphagia can also occur in children, especially in premature babies, children with neurological problems (such as cerebral palsy) or congenital abnormalities of the mouth, pharynx or esophagus.... This problem may be accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty in feeding, cough, prevention of a key role in the diagnosis of suffocation, etc.. Complications and helping the child feed safely.... **Is dysphagia curable?.. Is it?.. **Yes**, dysphagia can be treated or controlled in many cases, provided that the underlying cause is correctly identified.... Treatment may include speech therapy, diet modification, drug therapy or in some cases medical and surgical interventions.. Groups... Knowing these high-risk groups early helps to detect and prevent serious complications... Dysphagia are: - 🔹 **Elderly:** With age, the swallowing muscles become weaker and the possibility of swallowing disorders increases... 🔸 **Cancer patients:** especially people who have undergone surgery or radiation therapy in the head and neck area... - 🔸 **Patients who have a history of surgery in the neck or chest area, may cause damage to the nerves or chest area:** Doctor for dysphagia?** Some cases of dysphagia may be mild and temporary, but in many cases, a specialist examination is required. - Frequent food sticking to the throat or chest - Coughing or choking while eating Weight loss for no apparent reason - Pain when swallowing - Voice change or snoring after swallowing - Regurgitation of food or liquids from the nose or mouth Symptoms of malnutrition or dehydration - History of neurological diseases, stroke or cancer with swallowing symptoms Ignoring the symptoms of dysphagia can lead to serious and even dangerous complications.... Early visit to the doctor not only helps to diagnose the main cause faster, but also increases the chances of successful treatment.... Any change in the normal swallowing pattern should not be taken lightly, especially if it is accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss, cough or choking... *Can dysphagia be prevented? **Yes, in many cases, the occurrence or development of dysphagia can be prevented by following simple tips.** Although not all types of dysphagia can be prevented (for example, those caused by stroke or neurological diseases), the risk can be reduced by taking care of general health, timely treatment of digestive diseases and following the principles of dysphagia. Although dysphagia cannot always be prevented, in many cases it can be prevented or aggravated by following simple health, nutritional and treatment tips. Especially in the elderly or patients at risk, preventive measures play an important role in maintaining swallowing health and preventing serious complications. Prevention is always easier, cheaper and more effective than treatment. - ✅ Special care in the period after neck, head and esophagus surgeries Consult a speech therapist in case of mild but frequent symptoms - Teaching safe swallowing to high-risk patients (for example, after a stroke) Prevention of dysphagia requires awareness, care and attention to the initial symptoms... If people at risk such as the elderly or patients with neurological disorders are under regular care and follow the correct feeding method, many problems related to swallowing can be controlled... Many cases can be controlled and managed... Summary Dysphagia is an important swallowing disorder that can severely affect a person's quality of life. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment play an essential role in controlling symptoms and preventing dangerous complications... Knowing the symptoms, causes and treatment methods of this problem helps patients and families to better cope with it... Observing simple tips in nutrition and daily care can be the best way with follow-up and team follow-up. For the successful management of this disorder.** **With proper care, many patients can live a safer and more normal life.**