Dysphagia is one of those umbrella terms used to describe a variety of eating, chewing, and swallowing disorders that can affect everyone, from small babies to elderly adults.
Whether you yourself have recently been diagnosed with dysphagia and are looking for more information into this rather common yet hardly talked about condition, or you are conducting research on behalf of a loved one, you should definitely continue reading.
The Most Common Causes of Dysphagia
As you might expect, there could be any number of reasons why different people experience signs and symptoms of dysphagia, and in many cases, there could be a combination at the root cause.
The following causes, however, cover the most common:
How to Tell If You Have Dysphagia
Obviously, should you have even the slightest suspicion that you may have developed dysphagia, regardless of your gender, age, or lifestyle, it is imperative that you make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible.
Some people living with dysphagia only have an issue with particular food items and a couple of drinks, whereas others, regardless of the item they are consuming, have to live with dysphagia symptoms.
In general, if you regularly experience a choking sensation while eating, cough in between swallowing, or feel as if there is a piece of food lodged in your throat, then these are all warning signs of dysphagia.
In addition, if your voice sounds wet and/or you are gurgling when you drink or drool excessively while chewing and swallowing, this could also mean that you have developed a disorder when it comes to eating and drinking.
Home Remedies to Try
Perhaps the most popular home remedy to at least try out to see if it makes a difference to one or more parts of the eating and digestive process is the highly regarded SimplyThick gel thickening both food and drink.
Essentially, food thickeners work by making the individual far more conscious of what is in their mouth and making both solids and liquids larger and, therefore, easier to control when chewing and swallowing.
Other home remedies to try when wanting to combat the signs and symptoms of dysphagia include deep breathing techniques and ensuring you remain seated for at least half an hour after eating.
Speech and Language Therapy
Another popular choice for people who experience issues, to varying degrees of severity, when eating and swallowing is to either follow their doctor’s advice and be transferred to a speech and language therapist or else seek one out on their own.
Speech and language therapists work with people of all ages to show them simple exercises to try out before and after eating, showing them how to hold their mouth, position their tongue, and move the throat safely to swallow. They also provide regular, updated information where appropriate.
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