Who usually gets dysphagia?
Dysphagia has many possible causes and happens most frequently in older adults. Any condition that weakens or damages the muscles and nerves used for swallowing may cause dysphagia. For example, people with diseases of the nervous system, such as cerebral palsy or Parkinson's disease, often have problems swallowing.
Dysphagia can occur at any age, but it's more common in older adults. The causes of swallowing problems vary, and treatment depends on the cause.
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.
- a condition that affects the nervous system, such as a stroke, head injury, or dementia.
- cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer.
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus.
It most commonly affects the elderly population, in which oropharyngeal dysphagia is associated with muscle atrophy, cognitive decline, and increased aspiration risk in as many as 35% of patients older than 75 years.
The true prevalence of dysphagia is higher in the elderly population than the general population. Although the prevalence of dysphagia in the Midwestern US population was reported to be 6% to 9%,1 its prevalence in community-dwelling persons over age 50 years is estimated to be between 15% and 22%.
Dysphagia can sometimes lead to further problems. One of the most common problems is coughing or choking, when food goes down the "wrong way" and blocks your airway. This can lead to chest infections, such as aspiration pneumonia, which require urgent medical treatment.
Illnesses. The prevalence of dysphagia is 27–64% in stroke patients, and approximately 50% in the acute phase (20). The figure is over 80% in patients with Parkinson's disease (21) and 38% in those with multiple sclerosis (22). While, it is 34.4% in those with head and neck cancer (23).
Dysphagia is a common symptom observed in congenital genetic syndromes. Studies conducted on patients with these genetic syndromes, where the detailed genetic background is examined, may provide another source of valuable information on swallowing genetics.
Dysphagia can be found in anxiety, depression and conversion hysteria, with high incidence in the urban population of the third world countries. However, several professionals are unaware of these disorders.
How many people have dysphagia?
An estimated 9 million Americans suffer from difficulty swallowing, otherwise known as “dysphagia.” Dysphagia becomes more prevalent with age, affecting up to 1 in 5 older adults, and up to 40 percent in institutionalized settings such as nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing. It can be temporary, or it can be a permanent condition that may or may not deteriorate over time, depending on the aetiology. Signs that an individual is experiencing dysphagia may include: Reported difficulty swallowing certain foods/liquids.
Oral preparatory phase.
The arch of your mouth and your tongue connect to prevent food or liquid entering the pharynx. Then, your tongue rises, squeezing the bolus back along the roof of your mouth and into your upper pharynx.
Dysphagia can come and go, be mild or severe, or get worse over time. If you have dysphagia, you may: Have problems getting food or liquids to go down on the first try. Gag, choke, or cough when you swallow.
Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) is a growing health concern in our aging population. Age-related changes in swallowing physiology as well as age-related diseases are predisposing factors for dysphagia in the elderly.
- Being born prematurely.
- Cleft lip or cleft palate.
- Compression of the esophagus by other body parts.
- Dental problems, such as an overbite.
- Developmental delays.
- Diseases that affect how the nerves and muscles work.
In a large population-based survey, we found that dysphagia is common; 1 of 6 adults reported experiencing difficulty swallowing. However, half of individuals have not discussed their symptoms with a clinician and many could have treatable disorders.
You should see your doctor to determine the cause of your swallowing difficulties. Call a doctor right away if you're also having trouble breathing or think something might be stuck in your throat. If you have sudden muscle weakness or paralysis and can't swallow at all, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
In patients with significant dysphagia and dementia we know that survival is equally short with and without a feeding tube, around 6 months.
Benign strictures typically progress slowly (over a period of months to years) and are associated with minimal weight loss. Malignant esophageal strictures usually cause rapidly progressing dysphagia (over a period of weeks to months) with substantial weight loss.
What are 4 complications of dysphagia?
- Dehydration.
- Malnutrition.
- Weight loss.
- Respiratory problems, such as aspiration pneumonia or respiratory infections.
- Fatigue.
- Cognitive confusion.
- Loss of dignity.
- Feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression.
The term dysphagia refers to the feeling of difficulty passing food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. This may be caused by many factors, most of which are temporary and not threatening. Difficulties in swallowing rarely represent a more serious disease, such as a tumor or a progressive neurological disorder.
Outside of a few special cases, dysphagia is often temporary and most dysphagic stroke survivors recover fully. Working with experts, like dieticians and speech pathologists, can help survivors manage their dysphagia and improve their ability to swallow safely.
Difficulty swallowing associated with GERD can be treated with prescription oral medications to reduce stomach acid. You might need to take these medications for a long time. Corticosteroids might be recommended for eosinophilic esophagitis. For esophageal spasm, smooth muscle relaxants might help.
Stress or anxiety may cause some people to feel tightness in the throat or feel as if something is stuck in the throat. This sensation is called globus sensation and is unrelated to eating. However, there may be some underlying cause. Problems that involve the esophagus often cause swallowing problems.
Swallowing difficulties are common at the end of life and dysphagia, a severe swallowing difficulty, is a sign that a person's disease is at end stage. If a person is having swallowing problems, we can refer them to a speech pathologist for a swallowing assessment and guidance for appropriate interventions.
As dementia progresses, swallowing difficulties (called dysphagia) become more common, although they will vary from person to person. Difficulties may include the person chewing continuously or holding food in their mouth. Swallowing difficulties can lead to weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration.
Dysphagia can have many different causes. Some cases of dysphagia are due to structural abnormalities or disease, and some are considered functional, where there is no apparent physical cause. Psychiatric reasons for dysphagia include anxiety disorders, phobias, somatic symptom disorder, and more.
Dysphagia can be classified as acute or nonacute. The acute onset of the inability to swallow solids and/or liquids (including saliva) is likely related to an esophageal foreign body impaction. Food impaction is the most common cause of acute dysphagia in adults.
Dysphagia is common in that 1 of 6 adults have reported experiencing difficulty swallowing. However, half of individuals have not discussed their symptoms with a clinician and many could have treatable disorders.
How common is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is a common condition; it affects approximately 13.5% of the general population but is more common in seniors. As more people live to older ages, the incidence of dysphagia is increasing. It affects 19-33% of individuals older than 80 years-of-age, and up to 50% of individuals living in a nursing home.
- 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.
Dysphagia can be found in anxiety, depression and conversion hysteria, with high incidence in the urban population of the third world countries. However, several professionals are unaware of these disorders.
Try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Cut your food into smaller pieces, chew food thoroughly and eat more slowly. If you have difficulty swallowing liquids, there are products you can buy to thicken liquids. Trying foods with different textures to see if some cause you more trouble.
In cases of stroke, dysphagia is traditionally associated with brainstem lesions or bilateral cortical damage [12,13].
Dysphagia can come and go, be mild or severe, or get worse over time. If you have dysphagia, you may: Have problems getting food or liquids to go down on the first try. Gag, choke, or cough when you swallow.
In patients with significant dysphagia and dementia we know that survival is equally short with and without a feeding tube, around 6 months.
Although it improves within 2 weeks for most, some face longstanding swallowing problems that place them at risk for pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and significantly affect quality of life.
The most common symptom of esophageal cancer is a problem swallowing (called dysphagia). It can feel like the food is stuck in the throat or chest, and can even cause someone to choke on their food.