Swallowing difficulty (also called dysphagia) is a condition that can make it very difficult to eat. When you have swallowing difficulties, food enters your mouth without the tongue pushing it in, and you may not be able to swallow or spit out liquids successfully either.
Understanding Your Swallowing Difficulty
It is important to understand the different types of swallowing problems and treatments for each one:
If you need help eating
The goal of this treatment is to make movement easier by breaking down food into smaller pieces. For example, cheese can be mashed or blended into a soup before eating, or a pudding can be thinned with milk if it’s too thick.
If you have trouble swallowing
If you have trouble swallowing and you can’t get food in the back of your mouth, it is called regurgitation. This type of problem usually requires fast-acting treatment, such as artificial spit-up bags or swallowing devices (esophagoscopes). If a person has more than one problem, this is called dysphagia.
If liquid foods still aren’t coming out
If liquids are not coming out from the back of your mouth as well as solid foods, it is called impaction. This type of problem needs to be treated by an endoscopy procedure to cut through and remove this blockage.
Treatment Techniques for Specific Conditions
If you are experiencing swallowing difficulties, you should consult your doctor immediately. Once the doctor has found out what the underlying cause of the dysphagia is, they will come up with a specific treatment to fit your needs.
You need to do exercises to help you swallow and not just rely on medication. If you have trouble swallowing liquids and solids, start off by taking small sips of water and then move on to things with more texture, such as yogurt.
Your doctor might also suggest herbs or supplements to ease swallowing problems.
If these exercises are not working, talk with your doctor so that they can come up with a more specialized plan for you for drinking liquids, such as adding a supplement like a SimplyThick EasyMix packet, as well as other food items.
Treating the Causes of the Condition
In order to treat the condition, your healthcare advisor will need to explore the causes of the problem.
Some common causes include:
Thyroid
If you have thyroid problems and they are not controlled, then that can be a cause of swallowing issues.
If this is the case, you need to see your doctor to check the levels of hormones in your body. You may also need tablets or medication to help with the problem.
Dentures
If your dentures are loose or not fitted properly, it could cause swallowing issues.
Make sure that you ask for a special appointment at the dentist’s office so that they can check if there is anything wrong with your dentures and fit them more comfortably.
Esophageal Reflux
If you have heartburn or acid reflux, it can make it difficult to swallow food. Heliotherapy is a treatment where you receive laser treatments on the esophagus to get rid of the reflux.
