Dysphagia: the most effective symptoms and remedies
Sore throat and cold usually go hand in hand. We also often have difficulty swallowing because our throat is quite inflamed by the virus.
It is a process similar to the flu we usually have with sudden changes in temperature or even with seasonal changes.
On other occasions, this lump in the throat is also caused by nerves and anxiety. But what happens when the swallowing difficulty becomes constant?
Before proceeding to describe the phenomenon of dysphagia, watch this short video on some exercises to increase self-esteem.
When we have difficulty swallowing and constant discomfort in the throat we can be faced with dysphagia.
Dysphagia, according to health guidelines, is the difficulty of ingesting both solid and liquid foods and even saliva itself.
This difficulty in swallowing is usually associated with some brain or muscle alteration that intervenes in the swallowing process.
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Symptoms of dysphagia
The signs and symptoms associated with dysphagia can be these:
- Painful swallowing
- Inability to finish the swallowing process
- Feeling of having something in the throat constantly
- Stomach acidity
- Significant weight loss
- Coughing or gagging when swallowing
- Problems with ingesting larger foods
What are the causes of dysphagia?
According to the Italian Federation of Societies of Diseases of the Digestive System (FISMAD), the causes of dysphagia can be very varied and depend very much on the type of dysphagia.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia
There are some causes that make swallowing difficult and therefore lead to throat injuries. Oropharyngeal dysphagia not only makes the swallowing process more difficult but can also lead to other effects such as vomiting and constant coughing, among others. We tell you what it may be due to:
- Neurological disorders: Mental illnesses can also affect the area of the throat muscle such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease.
- Neurological damage: Sudden damage such as a brain injury or spinal cord injury can also cause difficulty swallowing.
- Cancer: Some cancers and cancer treatments can cause dysphagia, making it difficult to ingest certain foods.
Pharyngeal dysphagia
- Achalasia - when the internal esophageal muscle (sphincter) does not relax properly, it does not allow food to pass properly and can cause food to return to the throat. This can also occur when the throat muscles are not strong enough.
- Gastric reflux - injury to the esophageal tissues caused by gastric acid accumulating in the stomach and can affect the narrowing of the esophagus walls.
- Radiation therapy - this cancer treatment can produce inflammation and scarring in the esophagus.
- Scleroderma - the presence of scar tissue can cause tissue stiffness and hardening in the throat area, which can eventually weaken the sphincter. This causes heartburn in the esophagus and also in the stomach.
- Esophageal ring - Thinning of the lower esophagus can cause difficulty in intermittent swallowing of solid food.
- Eosinophilic esophagitis - this condition may be related to a "food allergy which is due to an increase in cells called" eosinophils "in the" esophagus. "
What can be done to improve dysphagia?
The first thing to do is to go to the doctor. In case of anomalies that we observe in our body, it is important to consult a specialist, who will be able to provide you with a more professional diagnosis and treatment.
If you have already been diagnosed with dysphagia, these are some of the things you can do to improve it:
- Eat slowly and in small pieces. It is important to eat slowly and chew food well so that it can pass better through the pharynx.
- Avoid snacks between meals and focus on main meals.
- Contact an expert who will show you the techniques to better ingest your food.
- Do not eat bent or in the wrong posture, try to always eat straight and well composed so that the food can pass well through the throat.
- Ask for an appointment with a nutritionist who will advise you which foods to eat and which types of cuisine are best suited to dysphagia.
