Every now and then, a person might get a lump in their
throat, making it difficult for them to swallow, and once this becomes a consistent
issue, other areas of that person’s life can be affected. This swallowing disorder,
dysphagia, can happen for various reasons, with it being more common among seniors.
There are several available dysphagia treatment options, but the right one can
vary depending on how severe a patient’s condition is and what’s causing it.
Some notable medical issues that might cause dysphagia
include stroke, tumors, diabetes, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
In other cases, dental problems, including critically decayed teeth and
dentures that aren’t fitting, could lead to swallowing problems. Individuals
can also develop swallowing problems because of treatment from another illness,
such as chemotherapy.
Stages of Swallowing
The best treatment for dysphagia can
vary based on a swallowing issue’s cause and at which stage it’s occurring. The
swallowing process has three stages from which difficulty can arise:
· First stage
—the oral phase, which is the
chewing of food.
· Second stage
—the pharyngeal phase, which
is the start of pushing food down into the throat, with the trachea closing to
keep food out of the airway.
· Third stage
—the esophageal phase where food
is pushed down the esophagus and into the stomach.
Treatment Options for
Dysphagia
Dysphagia treatment options are usually compensatory or
rehabilitative, with the former treatment options not solving the problem but
instead teaching patients to manage it. Treatment could include turning the
head a specific way to help food down the esophagus or changing a food’s
consistency to make swallowing it easier.
On the other hand, rehabilitative dysphagia treatments are
meant for improving one’s swallowing ability more permanently. Treatment may
include exercises to build up strength in the esophagus and face or learning
swallowing techniques that ensure the airway remains blocked, preventing any
food from getting into the trachea and lungs. One technique, the supraglottic
swallow, includes holding one’s breath before swallowing in order to close the
airway off.
Surgical and Medical Treatments
Rehabilitation may be all that some patients require to
treat swallowing issues. However, some cases might be caused by an ongoing
medical concern like GERD or by issues with the esophagus’s size and shape, and
surgical or medical treatment could be needed. If swallowing issues are caused
by the esophagus being too narrow or tight muscles within the esophagus, a myotomy
could be required. With this surgery, the lower esophageal sphincter’s muscles
are cut, thereby allowing food to move more easily into the stomach from the esophagus.
For medical treatment, patients may simply need antacids or similar
medications for controlling GERD symptoms. If the issue is tied to thick saliva
or salivary control, a doctor can prescribe medications for managing saliva.
Dysphagia and Dental
Care
Swallowing problems could be tied to dental problems,
considering swallowing’s oral phase is based on how many teeth one has and how
healthy they are. While good oral health care doesn’t relieve dysphagia
directly, it does play a crucial role in preventing and minimalizing swallowing
problems.
If you are avoiding having this condition checked out because of the high cost of dental care, consider the Wellness Dental Plan. Our
New Hampshire discount dental plan
can save you as much as 20 percent off your dental bills. For more information,
click here.
Copyright:
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