Swallowing problems
As swallowing is a complex process, there are many reasons whydysphagia can develop.
Some causes of dysphagia are explained below.
The nervous system is made up of the brain, nerves and spinal cord. Damage to the nervous system can interfere with the nerves responsible for starting and controlling swallowing. This can lead to dysphagia.
Some neurological causes of dysphagia include:
The term "congenital" refers to something you're born with. Developmental conditions affect the way you develop.
Congenital or developmental conditions that may cause dysphagia include:
Conditions that cause an obstruction in the throat or a narrowing of the oesophagus(the tube that carries food from your mouth to the stomach)can make swallowing difficult.
Some causes of obstruction and narrowing include:
Any condition that affects the muscles used to push food down the oesophagus and into the stomach can cause dysphagia,althoughsuch conditions are rare.
Two muscular conditions associated with dysphagia are:
As you get older, themusclesused for swallowing can become weaker. This may explain why dysphagia is relatively commonin elderly people. Treatment is available to help people with age-related dysphagia.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is a collection of lung conditions that make it difficult to breathe in and out properly. Breathing difficulties can sometimes affect your ability to swallow.
Dysphagia can also sometimes develop as a complication of head or necksurgery.
Dysphagia is the medical term for having difficulty swallowing. Some people with dysphagia have problems swallowing certain foods or liquids, while others can't swallow at all.
As swallowing is a complex process, there are many reasons why dysphagia can develop.
You should see your GP if you are having any difficulty swallowing.
Many swallowing problems can be treated, although the treatment you receive will depend on the type of dysphagia you have.
The main complication of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) is coughing and choking, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia.