Dysphagia, which is defined as difficulty swallowing, is characterized by a person’s inability to move solid foods, liquids, or saliva from their mouth to their stomach with ease. Dysphagia can make it challenging to consume enough calories and fluids to maintain a healthy body.
Any age can experience dysphagia, but older adults are more likely to experience it.
Symptoms
Dysphagia may present with the following signs and symptoms:
· Having pain while swallowing
· Being unable to swallow
Sensing food becoming stuck in the chest, sternum, or throat
· Drooling
· Being hoarse
· Bringing food back up
· Having frequent heartburn
Stomach acid or food getting into the throat
· Unexpectedly losing weight
When swallowing, gagging or coughing
Eating in smaller portions or avoiding certain foods because they are difficult to swallow.
Causes
Although the exact cause of dysphagia is sometimes unknown, it generally belongs to one of the following categories because swallowing is a complex process that can be affected by a variety of conditions.
Esophageal dysphagia
Esophageal dysphagia is the term used to describe the feeling that food is stuck or getting caught up in your throat or chest after you have started to swallow.
·Achalasia.Muscles in the wall of your esophagus may also be weak, a condition that tends to get worse over time, which may cause you to bring food back up into your throat when your lower esophageal muscle (sphincter) doesn’t relax properly to let food enter your stomach.
·Diffuse spasm.Diffuse spasm affects the involuntary muscles in the walls of your lower esophagus and causes multiple high-pressure, ill-timed contractions of your esophagus, usually after you swallow.
·Esophageal stricture.Large pieces of food can become stuck in an esophageal stricture due to tumors or scar tissue, which are frequently brought on by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Esophageal tumors.When esophageal tumors are present, swallowing difficulties frequently worsen over time.
- Foreign bodies.Older adults with dentures and individuals who have trouble chewing their food may be more susceptible to having a piece of food become lodged in the throat or esophagus.
- Esophageal ring.The lower esophagus contains a thin area of narrowing that can occasionally make it difficult to swallow solid foods.
- GERD.Lower esophageal spasms, scarring, or narrowing can result from esophageal tissues being damaged by stomach acid that backs up into the esophagus.
- Eosinophilic esophagitis.The overabundance of eosinophilic cells in the esophagus is the root cause of this condition, which may be linked to a food allergy.
- Scleroderma.Your lower esophageal sphincter may become weakened by the formation of scar-like tissue, stiffening and hardening of tissues, which can lead to frequent heartburn and acid reflux.
- Radiation therapy.The esophagus may become inflamed and scarred as a result of this cancer treatment.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia
You may choke, gag, cough, or feel as though food or liquids are traveling up your nose or down your windpipe (trachea) when you try to swallow due to certain conditions that weaken the muscles in your throat, which can cause difficulty moving food from your mouth into your throat and esophagus when you start to swallow, which can result in pneumonia.
Causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia include:
·Neurological disorders.Dysphagia can be brought on by a number of conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis.
·Neurological damage.Your capacity to swallow may be impacted by sudden neurological damage, including that caused by a stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury.
·Pharyngoesophageal diverticulum (Zenker’s diverticulum).You may have trouble swallowing, gurgling noises, bad breath, and frequent throat clearing or coughing if a small pouch forms and gathers food particles in your throat, usually just above your esophagus.
·Cancer.The inability to swallow can be brought on by specific cancers and cancer treatments like radiation.
Risk factors
Dysphagia risk factors include the following:
·Aging.Older adults are more likely to experience swallowing problems due to esophageal deterioration caused by aging and normal use, as well as a higher risk of certain diseases like Parkinson’s disease or stroke. However, dysphagia is not regarded as a normal symptom of aging.
·Certain health conditions.An increased risk of swallowing issues exists in people with specific neurological or nervous system disorders.
Complications
Swallowing problems can result in:
·Malnutrition, weight loss and dehydration.Being able to swallow properly can be challenging for those who have dysphagia.
·Aspiration pneumonia.Aspiration pneumonia can be brought on by food that introduces bacteria to the lungs, such as when you try to swallow and food or liquid gets into your airway.
·Choking.Food can cause choking when it lodges in the throat, and if the airway is completely blocked and no one steps in to perform a successful Heimlich maneuver, the patient may die.
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
When it comes to DYSPHAGIA, there are many effective medicines available in homoeopathy, but the choice depends on the individuality of the patient, taking their mental and physical symptoms into consideration. Homoeopathy is currently a rapidly growing system that is used throughout the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual.
ALUMINA:Dry and sore throat, difficulty swallowing due to constricted esophagus, sensation of a splinter or plug in the throat, and a constant desire to clear the throat.
ANACARDIUM ORIENTALE:Food and liquids are quickly swallowed, and food is swallowed incorrectly.
BAPTISIA TINCTORA:Can only swallow liquids; solid food makes them gag; they have ragged throat ulcers; their esophagus is constricted at the cardiac orifice; and they frequently have to force food down their throats.
BARYTA CARBONICA :Can only swallow liquids; throat pain is worse when emptying the stomach; and esophageal spasm, which results in choking and gagging, when food enters the esophagus.
BELLADONNA :Drinks in sips. Must take a drink to swallow solid food. Bends head forward and lifts up knees. Throat feels constricted. Swallowing difficult, worse with liquids. Esophagus is dry; feels contracted; spasms in throat.
CACTUS GRANDIFLORUS:It is necessary to drink a lot of liquid to swallow food, and the esophagus feels constricted. The throat also feels warm.
DIPHTHERINUM.Despite not feeling any pain when swallowing, fluids either return through the nose or are vomited.
HYOSCYAMUS NIGER:Fluids come out of the nose or enter the larynx, the throat feels dry and constricted, it stings, and it is difficult to swallow liquids, solids, or warm food.
KALI CARBONICUM:Swallowing is challenging due to esophageal constriction. Food descends slowly, remains in the esophagus halfway, and is difficult to swallow. Small food particles easily pass through the windpipe. The throat hurts like a fish bone when swallowing.
LACHESIS:When swallowing, there is a choking sensation, a feeling of something being swollen that must be swallowed, difficulty swallowing liquids or saliva, choking when eating, difficulty swallowing sweet or acrid things, throat constriction, and pain and swelling.
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