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Dysphagia is the difficulty to swallow. It is more common among older
adults and in linkage with other geriatric problems. However, it could
appear in any age.
Symptoms
========
Mayo clinic lists symptoms sometimes associated with the problem:?
- Pain while swallowing (odynophagia)
- Not being able to swallow at all
- Choking or coughing while eating
- Sensation of food getting stuck in your throat or chest, or behind
your breastbone (sternum)
- Pressure or pain in your chest
- Bringing food back up (regurgitation)
- Frequent heartburn
- Food or stomach acid backing up into your throat
- Gurgling sound in your throat
- Unexpected weight loss
In infants and children, signs and symptoms of dysphagia may include:
- Lack of attention during feeding or meals
- Tensing of the body during feeding
- Refusing to eat foods of different textures
- Lengthy feeding or eating times (30 minutes or longer)
- Food or liquid leaking from the mouth
- Coughing or gagging during feeding or meals
- Spitting up or vomiting during feeding or meals
- Inability to coordinate breathing with eating and drinking
- Poor weight gain or growth"
(SOURCE: Dysphagia, Mayo Clinic
<http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=7F63DE3D-2EC2-4360-AF54FB7E1C39A350&dsection=2>).
Possible Causes
===============
There are various reasons why this could happen:
"There are many different causes of dysphagia. Your doctor can
effectively distinguish between them by a thorough medical history,
physical exam, and testing.
Problems related to the upper areas of the mouth and pharynx:
- Obstruction to the passage of food or liquid:
- Emotional or anxiety disorder (globus hystericus)
- Tumors
- Cervical spine disease
- Zenker's diverticulum
- Esophageal webs
- Nerve and muscle problems such as:
- Stroke
- Parkinson's disease
- Huntington's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
- Myasthenia gravis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Infections, such as polio and syphilis
- Polymyositis
Problems related to the esophagus:
- Obstruction to the passage of food or liquid:
- Tumors
- Strictures (narrowings) that may be caused by radiation, chemical
ingestions, medications, or ulcers
- Schatzki's ring
- Foreign bodies
- Nerve and muscle problems, such as:
- Achalasia
- Diffuse esophageal spasm
- Hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (the muscle at the end of
the esophagus that allows food to pass into the stomach)
- Nutcracker esophagus
- Scleroderma"
(SOURCE: All Refer Health, "Swallowing Difficulty",
<http://health.allrefer.com/health/swallowing-difficulty-causes.html>).
More on the Causes from Mayo Clinic site:
<http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=7F63DE3D-2EC2-4360-AF54FB7E1C39A350&dsection=3>.
Since Dysphagia has different reasons, and is more a description of a
situation, part of a wider phenomenon, some of these reasons or
conditions are indeed hereditary. For example, on the Dysphagia
mailing list, a professional mailing list discussing the condition,
one of the participants described "Occulapharyngeal Muscular
Dystrophy", "In our area, they are mostly of French-Canadian descent,
and the disease is progressive and hereditary." (SOURCE: Dysphagia --
Dysphagia Mail List, "Occulapharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy"
<http://lists.b9.com/pipermail/dysphagia/1999-October/047077.html>).
However, to other conditions in which dysphagia is part of the
problem, there are no known hereditary causes.
The same applies for your question regarding dysphagia is a
psychosomatic phenomenon ("psychological"): it could be caused by
psychological problems, by physical ones, or by a condition of both.
Speaking of Air Force related medicine, Dysphagia might be also the
result of exposure to chemical or biological weapons; and as part of
flight related neurological problems.
Treatment and Cure
==================
As explained before, this could be a part of a wider problem that
should be treated. The "chances" to be cured really depends on the
reason - if it is the result of Parkinson's Disease, it might be
treated, but not cured.
Treatment depends, therefore, on the type of Dysphagia, and on the
causes. It could be treated chirurgical; "swallowing therapy"; by
solving the problem that caused it; endoscopies; and all might be
accompanied by a suitable diet.
"In most cases, treatment can alleviate dysphagia even if there is no
cure for the underlying cause. Drug therapy can lessen dysphagia and
its associated symptoms, and swallowing therapy can build skills for
strengthening the existing swallowing mechanisms and working around
persistent problems. Oral devices and assistive devices can also make
eating a bit easier. Surgery can relieve obstructions, prevent
swallowed material from entering the airway, and create alternate
routes for feeding."
(SOURCE: Samir Nath, MD, Swallowing Difficulties Patient Guide. May
2001., <http://praxis.md/index.asp?page=bhgpatientasks&article_id=BHG01GA05>).
See more on treatment:
Mayo Clinic
<http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=7F63DE3D-2EC2-4360-AF54FB7E1C39A350&dsection=4>
Whom to Go to
=============
If you think that you suffer of Dysphagia, you should consult with a
specialist, and first of all - with a Nose, Eat and Throat specialist
or with a Gastrointestinal specialist. These exist in the Air Force,
although you might need a referral under Tricare (if you are under
Tricare).
As stated before, it would be difficult to tell you where to go,
before the reason for the dysphagia will be examined.
Further Sources
===============
Dysphagia -- Dysphagia Mail List
<http://lists.b9.com/mailman/listinfo/dysphagia>
NINDS Swallowing Disorders Information Page
<http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/swallowing_disorders.htm>
I hope this answered your questions. I searched medical databases and
the Internet for [dysphagia] and related terms. Please contact me if
you need any further clarifications on this answer before you rate it. |
