Dysphagia
DEFINITION
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) means it takes more time and effort to move food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Dysphagia may also be associated with pain. In some cases, swallowing may be impossible.
Occasional difficulty swallowing, which may occur when you eat too fast or don’t chew your food well enough, usually isn’t cause for concern. But persistent dysphagia may indicate a serious medical condition requiring treatment.
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.
CAUSES
Swallowing is complex, and a number of conditions can interfere with this process. Sometimes the cause of dysphagia can’t be identified. However, dysphagia generally falls into one of the following categories.
Esophageal dysphagia
Esophageal dysphagia refers to the sensation of food sticking or getting hung up in the base of your throat or in your chest after you’ve started to swallow. Some of the causes of esophageal dysphagia include:
- Achalasia. When your lower esophageal muscle (sphincter) doesn’t relax properly to let food enter your stomach, it may cause you to bring food back up into your throat. Muscles in the wall of your esophagus may be weak as well, a condition that tends to worsen over time.
- Diffuse spasm. This condition produces multiple high-pressure, poorly coordinated contractions of your esophagus, usually after you swallow. Diffuse spasm affects the involuntary muscles in the walls of your lower esophagus.
- Esophageal stricture. A narrowed esophagus (stricture) can trap large pieces of food. Tumors or scar tissue, often caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can cause narrowing.
- Esophageal tumors. Difficulty swallowing tends to get progressively worse when esophageal tumors are present.
- Foreign bodies. Sometimes food or another object can partially block your throat or esophagus. Older adults with dentures and people who have difficulty chewing their food may be more likely to have a piece of food become lodged in the throat or esophagus.
- Esophageal ring. A thin area of narrowing in the lower esophagus can intermittently cause difficulty swallowing solid foods.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Damage to esophageal tissues from stomach acid backing up into your esophagus can lead to spasm or scarring and narrowing of your lower esophagus.
- Eosinophilic esophagitis. This condition, which may be related to a food allergy, is caused by an overpopulation of cells called eosinophils in the esophagus.
- Scleroderma. Development of scar-like tissue, causing stiffening and hardening of tissues, can weaken your lower esophageal sphincter, allowing acid to back up into your esophagus and cause frequent heartburn.
- Radiation therapy. This cancer treatment can lead to inflammation and scarring of the esophagus.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia
Certain conditions can weaken your throat muscles, making it difficult to move food from your mouth into your throat and esophagus when you start to swallow. You may choke, gag or cough when you try to swallow or have the sensation of food or fluids going down your windpipe (trachea) or up your nose. This may lead to pneumonia.
Causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia include:
- Neurological disorders. Certain disorders — such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease — can cause dysphagia.
- Neurological damage. Sudden neurological damage, such as from a stroke or brain or spinal cord injury, can affect your ability to swallow.
- Pharyngeal diverticula. A small pouch that forms and collects food particles in your throat, often just above your esophagus, leads to difficulty swallowing, gurgling sounds, bad breath, and repeated throat clearing or coughing.
- Cancer. Certain cancers and some cancer treatments, such as radiation, can cause difficulty swallowing.
SYMPTOMS
დისფაგიის სიმპტომები:
- ტკივილი ყლაპვისას(ოდინოფაგია)
- ყლაპვის სრული შეზღუდვა
- შეგრძნება, რომ საკვები გაიჩხირა ყელში, მკერდში ან მკერდის ძვლის(სტერნუმი) უკან
- დორბლიანობა
- ხმის ჩახლეჩა
- საკვების უკან ამოღება(რეგურგიტაცია)
- ხშირი გულძმარვა
- საკვების ან კუჭის წვენის ამობრუნება უკან, ყელის მიმართულებით
- წონაში მოულოდნელად კლება
- ხველა ან დახშობის შეგრძნება ყლაპვისას
- ყლაპვის გაძნელების გამო საკვების მცირე ნაწილებად დაჭრა
როდის მივმართოთ ექიმს
- მიმართეთ ექიმს, თუ თქვენ რეგულარულად გიჭირთ ყლაპვა ან დისფაგიას თან ახლავს წონაში კლება, რეგურგიტაცია ან ღებინება.
- თუ დახშობა ხელს გიშლით სუნთქვაში, მოითხოვეთ სამედიცინო დახმარება სასწრაფოდ. თუ თქვენ ვერ ყლაპავთ, რადგან გრძნობთ, რომ საკვები გაგეჩხირათ
