Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing is a common disorder that can occur for very different reasons. It can have physical and psychological causes. Some recommendations for home and natural treatment can help overcome the problem.
About 45% of people over the age of 70 suffer from dysphagia, which is often linked to other diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, senile dementia or Alzheimer’s.
- Dysphagia: what is it
- Dysphagia: symptoms
- How does a swallowing disorder manifest itself?
- What are the causes of dysphagia?
- Dysphagia, anxiety… can there be psychological causes?
- Dysphagia: treatment
- Tips to improve swallowing
- 5 Home Remedies for Mild Dysphagia
About 45% of people over the age of 70 suffer from dysphagia, which is often linked to other diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, senile dementia or Alzheimer’s.
DYSPHAGIA: WHAT IS IT
What is dysphagia? Dysphagia, which is difficulty swallowing, can be painless or painful. Depending on the severity of symptoms, eating and drinking can be annoying, difficult, or impossible. If dysphagia is accompanied by pain, doctors often refer to it as odynophagia.
HOW DOES A SWALLOWING DISORDER MANIFEST ITSELF?
A swallowing disorder manifests with different problems when you try to swallow or soon after. Difficulties in both drinking and eating may be experienced.
When symptoms appear is crucial for diagnosis. Oropharyngeal dysphagia causes complications during the act of swallowing, however, in esophageal dysphagia the symptoms take a few seconds to appear.
If you suffer from any difficulty of this type, it is always advisable to consult a doctor. Sometimes there are harmless triggers that can be fixed quickly. An examination offers the opportunity to get to the bottom of the cause and treat any underlying illnesses, if necessary.
HOW DOES A SWALLOWING DISORDER MANIFEST ITSELF?
A swallowing disorder manifests with different problems when you try to swallow or soon after. Difficulties in both drinking and eating may be experienced.
When symptoms appear is crucial for diagnosis. Oropharyngeal dysphagia causes complications during the act of swallowing, however, in esophageal dysphagia the symptoms take a few seconds to appear.
If you suffer from any difficulty of this type, it is always advisable to consult a doctor. Sometimes there are harmless triggers that can be fixed quickly. An examination offers the opportunity to get to the bottom of the cause and treat any underlying illnesses, if necessary.
The following neurological diseases, among others, may be identified as neurological causes of a swallowing disorder or dysphagia:
- Dystonia (involuntary contractions of the muscles).
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Dementia.
- Stroke.
- Myasthenia gravis.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Traumatic brain injury.
- Other neurodegenerative diseases
DYSPHAGIA, ANXIETY… CAN THERE BE PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES?
Dysphagia can also have psychological or psychosomatic causes. In this case, doctors speak of psychogenic dysphagia. In principle, possible physical and neurological causes are always examined first before considering psychological reasons.
Psychological dysphagia often occurs in the context of “pharyngeal balloon” syndrome (formerly called “bolus” or “hysterical balloon”, which is the persistent or intermittent sensation of having a foreign body in the throat, without an organic cause to justify it). In such cases, it is usually helpful to consult a psychotherapist.
DYSPHAGIA: TREATMENT
Treatment options for dysphagia depend entirely on the causes. Your doctor will first determine if the cause is physical or psychological. Then he will prescribe the treatment.
In the worst case, when you can no longer eat or drink due to dysphagia, a nasogastric tube, which is inserted through the nose, or a tube with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), which is inserted through the abdominal wall, may be placed.
In less severe cases, there are several treatment options that can be used at any stage of swallowing, whether preoral, oral, pharyngeal or esophageal.
The corresponding therapeutic interventions take the form of speech and swallowing therapy. The main objective is to restore sensitivity in the mouth and work the various protective reflexes, such as nausea, cough or swallowing.
Massages, motor exercises of muscle groups, thermal stimulation, changes in posture when eating, in diet and in the consistency of meals can be used. Liquefying food makes it easier to eat.
Undefined
TIPS TO IMPROVE SWALLOWING
- Make your food as appetizing as possible, thus stimulating the flow of saliva
- Sitting with your back straight for 20 minutes after eating can reduce the risk of aspiration.
- Take enough time to eat and avoid radio, TV and conversations
- Stop eating if you have signs of aspiration, such as a hoarse voice or cough
- Keep a dish diary, listing all the foods and liquids you tolerate well or not.
5 HOME REMEDIES FOR MILD DYSPHAGIA
In many cases, acute swallowing problems, caused by a viral infection, do not require drug treatment. They usually go away on their own once the inflammation has healed. If you want to get relief, you can use home remedies.
1. DRINK A LOT
If you have difficulty swallowing, you should make sure you drink at least two liters of water a day. The liquid helps moisten the mucous membranes attacked by inflammation.
Infusions of sage or thyme not only moisturize, but also have an antiseptic and soothing effect on the irritated throat. Warm milk with honey relieves irritated mucous membranes.
2. GARGLE WITH SALT WATER OR SAGE INFUSION
If you want to relieve your swallowing problems with home remedies, you can also gargle with salt water.
Simply dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Gargling with sage infusion is even better, because it has an anti-inflammatory effect.
3. INHALATION OF STEAM WITH SALT WATER
Inhaling steam with salt water is also beneficial for a sore throat. This method is also used to better moisten the mucous membranes of the throat and facilitate swallowing. In addition, hot steam has an expectorant effect.
4. HEAT HAS AN EXPECTORANT EFFECT
The heat stimulates blood circulation and has a relaxing and expectorant effect. This will relieve the pain. The easiest way to keep your neck warm and warm is with a scarf.
Warm neck wraps are another way to combat swallowing difficulties through home remedies. You can moisten a cloth infused with chamomile, thyme or sage and wrap it around your neck. To keep warm longer, wrap a second towel or scarf around the first cloth. The calorific effect lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.
5. COLD COMPRESSES WITH QUARK HELP WITH SWALLOWING DIFFICULTIES
Some prefer cold wraps, which reduce inflammation. Fresh quark cheese is very suitable for cold wraps, as it does not take body temperature as quickly as water. The quark is spread over a cloth, which is turned over once and put around the neck as a scarf. You can also resort to cold gel packs.
