Is dysphagia a medical diagnosis?

Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that causes difficulty or pain while swallowing or attempting to swallow. Anyone can develop dysphagia, but it is more likely to occur in older people. This condition can make it difficult for people to get adequate nutrition and can significantly affect quality of life.

How do you know if you have dysphagia?

Signs and symptoms associated with dysphagia can include:

1. Pain while swallowing.
2. Inability to swallow.
3. A sensation of food getting stuck in the throat or chest or behind the breastbone (sternum)
4. Drooling.
5. Hoarseness.
6. Food coming back up (regurgitation)
7. Frequent heartburn.
8. Food or stomach acid backing up into the throat.

Is dysphagia a medical emergency?

If food is stuck for more than a few hours, it is considered an emergency situation as it could result in a hole in the esophagus. Chronic recurrent issues of choking or coughing related to dysphagia can result in pneumonia.

What medical conditions cause dysphagia?

Dysphagia is usually caused by another health condition, such as:

• a condition that affects the nervous system, such as a stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis or dementia.
• cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer.
• gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus.

What are the stages of dysphagia?

What is dysphagia?

• Oral preparatory phase. During this phase, you chew your food to a size, shape, and consistency that can be swallowed.
• Pharyngeal phase. Here, the muscles of your pharynx contract in sequence.
• Esophageal phase. The muscles in your esophagus contract in sequence to move the bolus toward your stomach.

How do you assess for dysphagia?

Tests can include:

1. X-ray with a contrast material (barium X-ray).
2. Dynamic swallowing study.
3. A visual examination of your esophagus (endoscopy).
4. Fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
5. Esophageal muscle test (manometry).
6. Imaging scans.

What is the swallow test?

A swallowing study is a test that shows what your throat and esophagus do while you swallow. The test uses X-rays in real time (fluoroscopy) and records what happens when you swallow. While you swallow, the doctor and speech pathologist watch a video screen.

Which signs would the nurse recognize as a client having dysphagia?

Any of the following signs or symptoms may indicate the need for an immediate referral to a speech-language pathologist (SLP) for dysphagia assessment: coughing or throat clearing before, during, or after swallowing. wet, gurgling voice before, during, or after swallowing.

Why should we treat dysphagia?

Treatment Dysphagia (swallowing problems) The cause of dysphagia is also considered when deciding on treatment or management. In some cases, treating the underlying cause, such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer, can help relieve swallowing problems.

What can be the therapy for dysphagia?

Treatment for dysphagia depends on the type or cause of your swallowing disorder. For oropharyngeal dysphagia, your doctor may refer you to a speech or swallowing therapist, and therapy may include: Learning exercises. Certain exercises may help coordinate your swallowing muscles or restimulate the nerves that trigger the swallowing reflex.