Gastroenterology Consultants of Central Florida have patients with dysphagia. This blog may mention symptoms you are having. Today we will discuss the causes and types of dysphagia.
Introduction:
What exactly is dysphagia? Dysphagia is the difficulty swallowing food or liquid. It can happen at any age but is more common in adults.
Many patients with dysphagia have a hard time eating or drinking. If you try to eat too fast and don’t chew your food enough and have a hard time swallowing occasionally, this isn’t usually a cause for concern. There are multiple causes for swallowing difficulties, and treatment depends on the cause.
Symptoms:
Odynophagia is the pain while swallowing, and it is a symptom of dysphagia. Drooling, being hoarse, and regurgitating are symptoms of dysphagia.
Some patients cannot swallow at all. You may have frequent heartburn because the stomach acids coming up. Patients with dysphagia may cough or gag when trying to swallow food because the food doesn’t go down the esophagus as smoothly.
In some cases, patients unexpectedly lose weight. This is for obvious reasons. Some patients cannot swallow food, and if they do, they regurgitate it thus causing them to lose weight.
Esophageal dysphagia:
There are different types of dysphagia. Your doctor will determine which type you have. This will help 
your gastroenterologist use the right treatment for you.
Esophageal dysphagia is the sensation of food getting stuck in the base of your throat. The causes for esophageal include:
- Achalasia: When the esophageal muscle, sphincter, does not relax how it should in order to let food enter your stomach, it may cause the food to come back up your throat. The muscles in the wall of your throat may be weak too.
- Diffuse spasm: This condition produces high-pressure and uncoordinated contractions in your esophagus. This usually happens after you swallow. The diffuse spasms affect the involuntary muscles in your lower esophagus.
- Esophageal stricture: A narrowed esophagus, or stricture, may trap large pieces of inadequately chewed food. GERD may cause tumors or scars causing the narrowing.
- Esophageal tumors: Difficulty swallowing usually becomes progressively worse when you have esophageal tumors.
- Foreign bodies: There may be a piece of food lodged in your throat causing blockage and discomfort. This is more common in older adults who have dentures or difficulty chewing thoroughly.
- Esophageal ring: This thin area of narrowing in the lower esophagus may cause difficulty swallowing solid foods.
- GERD: (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) causes esophageal tissue damage. The backup of food can cause spasms, scarring, and narrowing of your lower esophagus.
- Eosinophilic esophagitis: The overpopulation of cells called eosinophils in the esophagus causes this condition.
- Scleroderma: This is the development of scar-like tissue which causes the hardening of tissues. This weakens the lower esophagus sphincter. Acid recedes back up into your esophagus and causes frequent heartburn.
- Radiation therapy: This treatment, used for cancer, causes inflammation and scarring of the esophagus.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia:
Various conditions weaken your throat muscles. This makes it difficult for food to be moved from your mouth to your esophagus. When trying to swallow, you may choke or gag.
Sometimes patients have the sensation of food going into the wind pipe or up their nose. This may lead to pneumonia. Causes of oropharyngeal include:
- Neurological disorders: Multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders can cause dysphagia.
- Neurological damage: A sudden neurological change such as a stroke or brain injury can greatly affect your ability to swallow.
- Pharyngoesophageal diverticum: ( Also known as Zener’s diverticum) This is a small pouch that collects food particles in your throat. This causes difficulty swallowing, bad breath, gurgling sounds, coughing, and repeated throat-clearing.
- Cancer: Certain cancers and cancer treatments cause difficulty swallowing.
Severe cases:
In more serious cases, patients cannot swallow entirely. Although they may try, it may cause more harm than good. Doctors usually recommend feeding tubes or a nutritional liquid diet for these patients.
If left untreated:
If any of these symptoms ring true to you, schedule a visit with Gastroenterologist Consultants of Central Florida. If left untreated, dysphagia can cause malnutrition, weight loss, and dehydration. You also run the risk of aspiration pneumonia, if you do not seek medical attention for dysphagia.
Food entering airways can bring bacteria to your lungs which causes the aspiration pneumonia. If you eat alone and choke from the food not going down, you run the risk of death. Choking is a serious threat to people with dysphagia.
Do not let your dysphagia go untreated. Schedule an appointment promptly if you experience any symptoms mentioned, so you may enjoy your next family meal with less discomfort. Next week we will share information on the diagnosing and treatment of dysphagia. Thank your for reading this week’s blog!
Staff Writer