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Last Updated: Aug 29, 2019
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Dysphagia Or Difficulty In Swallowing!
| DYSPHAGIA [DYSPHAGIA] |
Difficulty in swallowing solids or liquids is called dysphagia. |
| CAUSES: |
| • Enlarged tonsils. • Cancer of the oral cavity. • Fungal infection of the mouth. • Cerebro-vascular accidents. • Motor neuron disease [a nerve disorder]. • Myasthenia gravis [fatigue and exhaustion of the muscular system with progressive muscular paralysis]. • Parkinsonism [a group of neurological disorder marked by diminished motor activity, tremor and muscular rigidity]. • Pharyngo-esophageal diverticulum [pouch/sac]. • Pharyngeal pouch. • Post-cricoid web. • Achalasia [failure of the sphincter at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach, to relax]. • Diffuse esophageal spasm. • Abnormal course of subclavian artery. • Oesophagitis. • Peptic stricture. • External compression from mediastinal masses. • Dilated left atrium [chamber of heart] in mitral stenosis. |
| SIGN AND SYMPTOMS: |
| • Difficulty in swallowing solids or liquids or both. • Nasal regurgitation or cough, while swallowing. • Difficulty in swallowing when watched by others [in Parkinsonism]. • Sensation of fullness in the middle of the chest with a feeling as if the food had stopped somewhere along the esophagus. • Regurgitation relieves pain and fullness in the centre of the chest. • Cough. • Need to drink water while eating. • Can lead to malnutrition. |
| DIETARY MANAGEMENT: |
| • Treat the cause. • Eat soft, semisolid or mashed food, which is easy to swallow. • Consume soups – vegetable, tomatoes, and green leafy vegetables etc. • Have fruits juices, sugarcane juice, buttermilk, and milk. • Make different porridge- wheat porridge, rice porridge or lentil porridge etc. • Boil food properly and then mash it so it's easy to swallow. • Try to make different varieties so all nutrients are consumed to prevent malnutrition. • Eat small quantities of food at regular intervals. • In severe cases where food is supplied to the body through food pipe,feed different varieties of soups, porridge and juices. |
| NOTE: |
| • Do not speak while eating. • Eat your food very slowly. • Chew the food well. |
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