Swallowing Disorders You May See Among Your Patients Difficulty in swallowing is known as dysphagia, and it is not that uncommon in any age group. Elderly people in particular tend to suffer from this condition quite frequently. The term dysphagia actually means difficulty passing food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. There are a number of factors that can cause this. Many are temporary, and will pass in time. It’s important to be aware of these when treating your patients, as they could complicate treatment, such as the act of swallowing a pill, drinking water, or eating food. Swallowing problems are not generally a sign of a more serious condition; however, if the problem persists for more than a few days, further tests should be conducted to ensure safety. Related: Legitimate Everyday Essentials For Nurses It is normal to swallow hundreds of times per day. People swallow to eat foods, drink liquids, and to swallow saliva. The process of swallowing has stages:
Oral preparation stage. This is when food and liquid is manipulated and checked in preparation for swallowing. The oral stage is when the tongue propels the food or liquid to the back portion of the mouth, thus starting the swallowing process. The third stage is the pharyngeal stage which begins as food and liquid is quickly passed through the pharynx. The final is the esophageal stage, where the food or liquid passes through the esophagus into the stomach. The stages of swallowing have voluntary and involuntary responses, which is often what initiates swallowing problems. It's not uncommon to think or talk about swallowing, and to then find yourself swallowing unnecessarily, simply by thinking about it. When in the dentist’s chair and they say no swallowing, what's the first thing you feel the urge to do? Swallowing Disorder Symptoms The typical symptoms of swallowing problems include drooling, full feeling in the throat, coughing, or choking due to food going into the lungs. A head and neck surgeon can diagnose swallowing problems after an examination and possible tests. In some cases this is done with a laryngoscope, placed through the nose. The patient will then be instructed to eat a small amount of food while the tube is in place. This provides