Swallowing Problems (Dysphagia)

What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia is the medical term for “trouble swallowing.” Sometimes, dysphagia happens if you eat too fast or don’t chew your food well enough. But if you have dysphagia, you might have a serious medical problem that needs to be treated right away.

What causes dysphagia?

Dysphagia is usually caused by a problem in the upper part of your digestive tract. Often, the problem is in the oesophagus, tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. But it can also happen because of a problem in the mouth or throat.

What are the symptoms of dysphagia?

The symptoms include:

• Not being able to swallow
• Pain while swallowing
• Feeling like food is stuck in your throat or chest
• Coughing or gagging while swallowing
• Drooling
• Trouble speaking

Should I see a doctor?

See your doctor or nurse if you have any of the above symptoms.

Are there tests for dysphagia?

 Yes. Your doctor will do an exam and ask about your symptoms. Other test might include:

• A swallowing study – For this test, you eat different foods coated with barium.  X-rays taken throughout the test show if you have problems with the muscles in your mouth or throat. This test is also called a “video fluoroscopy.”
• Upper endoscopy – For this test, the doctor puts a thin, flexible tube into your mouth, down your throat, and into your oesophagus. The tube (called an endoscope) has a camera and a light on it, so it allows the doctor to see inside the esophagus.
• Manometry – For this test, the doctor puts a small tube that measures the pressure in your esophagus. The readings show how well the muscles that help you swallow are working.

How is dysphagia treated?

The treatment depends on what is causing the dysphagia.

If you have dysphagia because of a problem in your mouth and the upper part of your throat, your doctor might refer you to a speech or swallowing specialist who can teach you exercises to help you swallow.

If the problem affects your oesophagus, treatments can include:

• Oesophageal dilation – For this procedure, the doctor uses an endoscope (see above) with a special balloon on the end to gently stretch and widen your oesophagus.
• Surgery – Doctors can do surgery to remove any tumors or other abnormal tissue in the esophagus.
• Medications.