Dysphagia can be described as difficulty swallowing, commonly called oropharyngeal dysphagia, or as the sensation of having food wedged between the mouth and stomach, which is commonly called esophageal dysphagia.
It is very important to identify the type of dysphagia present, in order to perform the most appropriate treatment, and in some cases both types of dysphagia may appear simultaneously.
- Treatment usually involves exercising.
- Learning swallowing techniques.
- Administering medications.
- And.
- In some cases.
- Performing surgery.
Symptoms may vary depending on the type of dysphagia
Also called high dysphagia because of its location, oropharyngeal dysphagia is characterized by difficulty starting to swallow, with symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, nasal regurgitation, coughing or reduction of cough reflex, nasal elotion, suffocation and bad breath.
In more severe cases, there is a risk of dehydration, malnutrition and aspiration of saliva, secretions and/or food to the lungs.
Esophageal dysphagia, also known as low dysphagia, occurs in the distal esophagus and is characterized by a feeling of food trapped in the esophagus.Dysphagia that occurs when solids and fluids are ingested is associated with esophageal motility disorders and may also be associated with chest pain.Dysphagia that occurs only with solids can be a sign of mechanical obstruction.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia can occur due to the onset of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, neuromuscular diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors and cerebral palsy, oral cavity and larynx tumors, medications, prolonged orotracheal intubation, tracheostomy and radiation therapy, for example.
The most common causes of esophageal dysphagia are mucous diseases, with narrowing of esophageal light by inflammation, fibrosis or neoplasm, mediatinal diseases, with esophagus obstruction and neuromuscular diseases affecting the oesophistic smooth muscle and its inervation, interrupting peristalsis and/or relaxation of the esophagus.
Treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia is limited, as neuromuscular and neurological alterations that produce it can hardly be corrected by clinical or surgical treatment, dietary changes are usually foreseen, with softer foods, thick liquids, in positions that facilitate swallowing.Therapeutic techniques may also be adopted to aid swallowing, such as thermal and taste strengthening and stimulation exercises.
In some cases, nasogastric tube feeding may be necessary
Treatment of esophageal dysphagia depends on the root cause, but can be done with the taking of acid-inhibiting drugs, in people with gastroesophageal reflux, with corticosteroids in cases of eosinophilic esophagitis and miorrelants, in people with esophageal spasms.Remedies are indicated for the treatment of reflux.
In addition, treatment may also be performed with medical procedures that favor the dilation of the esophagus or with surgery, for example, in case of obstruction by tumors or diverticules.