Dysphagia is a condition that is frequently discussed and monitored in the clinical and hospital setting, but one which I feel is still largely unheard of in the community setting.
What is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia simply means ‘difficulty swallowing’. It is a condition whereby a persons ability to swallow food or drink safely has been compromised.
What are the Common Signs and Symptoms of Dysphagia?
Typically signs of dysphagia are:
- Coughing, particularly when eating or drinking
- Feeling that food is getting ‘stuck’ in the throat
- Making gurgling (wet) sounds when eating or drinking
- A delay in swallowing (I.e. holding food in the mouth for longer than usual)
- Repeated chest infections
- Dehydration
- Drooling as struggling to swallow saliva
Taking longer than usual to eat meals can also be a sign that someone may be struggling with swallowing problems. Sometimes food may be left behind, sufferers may appear to ‘move food around’ on the plate and very little may be eaten. Therefore, weight loss can be a sign that someone is struggling with swallowing difficulties.
If dysphagia goes unrecognised or undiagnosed (as is often the case in the elderly population) they may feel anxious, isolated and quite low in mood. This is why I am so passionate about raising awareness of this condition.
Family members and carers may become concerned that their loved ones are not eating or drinking adequate amounts. Naturally, they may attempt to encourage their loved ones to eat and drink more (which can be unsafe in undiagnosed dysphagia) without realising what is actually going on.
What Can Happen If Dysphagia Goes Unnoticed?
If dysphagia goes unnoticed or undiagnosed, food or drink may slip down the airways (trachea) and could enter the lungs, instead of travelling down the food pipe (oesophagus) to the stomach. It may not always be immediately obvious if food has entered the airways.
If food or drink enters the airways, this is often described as aspiration. I.e. the person has ‘aspirated’ on food or drink. If a person then goes on to develop a chest infection (I.e. due to of food or drink entering the airways) this is referred to as aspiration pneumonia. Sometimes people suffering from dysphagia may struggle to swallow saliva and persistent drooling may be seen.
The consequences of developing aspiration pneumonia can be serious, sometimes life threatening. This is particularly the case in the elderly, who experience higher rates of swallowing difficulties due to illness, stroke, transient ischaemic attack (or mini-stroke), muscle weakness, dementia and other underlying conditions.
What Causes Dysphagia?
Dysphagia can often be the result of another underlying condition, for example dysphagia may be due to:
- Stroke
- Transient Ischaemic Attack (or mini-stroke) leading to muscle weakness
- Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
- Huntington’s Disease
- Dementia
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – dysphagia often unrecognised
- General illness and other underlying conditions
The key point to remember is that dysphagia can affect a person’s ability to swallow safely.
What can I do if I suspect that a loved one is experiencing swallowing difficulties?
If you suspect that someone is suffering from swallowing difficulties then it is important to seek medical attention as early as possible for an assessment to be made. I shall be posting more on dysphagia in the future, but for now I just wanted to start by raising awareness of the condition in the hope that it may help someone, somewhere. Lets spread the word and campaign for greater dysphagia awareness.