The word dysphagia is attributed to a disorder that causes complication in swallowing of both liquid and solid food. The term originates from the Greek terms dys and phagein. Dys means bad or strenuous while phagein means to eat. The disorder can be caused by a variety of medical conditions that lead to fatigue and problems of the structures that coordinate muscles in the throat and the mouth. This is what Dysphagia evaluation is all about.
The affected throat and mouth muscles are usually in charge of directing food and liquids to travel down the esophagus. In this condition, instead of the food travelling down the esophagus, it usually ends up in the trachea. The entrance of food into the trachea (windpipe) instead of the esophagus is very dangerous. It may lead to aspiration and pneumonia if left untreated.
The prevalence of this condition is at 13.5 percent. This is according to research conducted in the United States . The prevalence is on the basis of a few factors including, population studied, equipment used, and infectious health disorders. For example, the prevalence is placed between 29 to 64 percent among patients with stroke. Variation of prevalence occurs in people with neurologic disorders.
It is difficult to give statistics on the predominance of this disorder on a worldwide scale. This is due to the rising rate of umpteen illnesses that cause dysphagia, which differ from one geographical area to the other. Generally, this disorder can have effect on people of all ages. All the same, with regard to research, predominance seems to rise with the age of the person.
Development of dysphagia may be caused by several medical conditions. The common ones are radiation treatment for cancer, brain injury, trauma to the neck, head or spine, stroke and other conditions. Also, conditions that affect muscle performance may lead to this condition. Narrowing of the esophagus, cerebral palsy, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other diseases are examples.
There are many symptoms that accompany and characterize this condition. The condition usually seems to get more severe at certain times than others. It may also progress over time. Some common symptoms include fever, chills, wet gurgling voice after meals, throat clearing, changes in breathing, unintentional weight loss, heartburn, excessive secretions, and pain while swallowing. Food may also travel back out through the nose after being swallowed.
Dysphagia can be treated and managed at the same time. Management routines involve making certain changes to the lifestyle that one leads. For instance, one may be required to change the kind of foods they eat. Another management strategy is to engage in exercises that target swallowing muscles. Compensatory strategies such as turning the head to one side when swallowing may also help.
Injection of the Botox, which aids muscle relaxation and allows ease swallowing of foods, is a method of treating the condition. Also, surgical procedure may be conducted to correct the condition. A doctor may also find it necessary to prescribe reflux medications which are readily available.
The affected throat and mouth muscles are usually in charge of directing food and liquids to travel down the esophagus. In this condition, instead of the food travelling down the esophagus, it usually ends up in the trachea. The entrance of food into the trachea (windpipe) instead of the esophagus is very dangerous. It may lead to aspiration and pneumonia if left untreated.
The prevalence of this condition is at 13.5 percent. This is according to research conducted in the United States . The prevalence is on the basis of a few factors including, population studied, equipment used, and infectious health disorders. For example, the prevalence is placed between 29 to 64 percent among patients with stroke. Variation of prevalence occurs in people with neurologic disorders.
It is difficult to give statistics on the predominance of this disorder on a worldwide scale. This is due to the rising rate of umpteen illnesses that cause dysphagia, which differ from one geographical area to the other. Generally, this disorder can have effect on people of all ages. All the same, with regard to research, predominance seems to rise with the age of the person.
Development of dysphagia may be caused by several medical conditions. The common ones are radiation treatment for cancer, brain injury, trauma to the neck, head or spine, stroke and other conditions. Also, conditions that affect muscle performance may lead to this condition. Narrowing of the esophagus, cerebral palsy, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other diseases are examples.
There are many symptoms that accompany and characterize this condition. The condition usually seems to get more severe at certain times than others. It may also progress over time. Some common symptoms include fever, chills, wet gurgling voice after meals, throat clearing, changes in breathing, unintentional weight loss, heartburn, excessive secretions, and pain while swallowing. Food may also travel back out through the nose after being swallowed.
Dysphagia can be treated and managed at the same time. Management routines involve making certain changes to the lifestyle that one leads. For instance, one may be required to change the kind of foods they eat. Another management strategy is to engage in exercises that target swallowing muscles. Compensatory strategies such as turning the head to one side when swallowing may also help.
Injection of the Botox, which aids muscle relaxation and allows ease swallowing of foods, is a method of treating the condition. Also, surgical procedure may be conducted to correct the condition. A doctor may also find it necessary to prescribe reflux medications which are readily available.
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