Dysphagia is a common disorder related to difficulty swallowing that can occur at any age, although it is more prevalent among the elderly. This problem can be temporary or permanent and can affect both men and women. But what exactly is it?
What is dysphagia?
The term dysphagia refers to any disorder in the progression of food from the mouth to the stomach and can involve any of the stages of swallowing. Swallowing is the ability to channel solid, liquid, gaseous, or mixed substances (food or drink, alone or together) from the mouth to the stomach.
It is a complex process that involves rapid coordination of a set of muscles, which allows the bolus —i.e., chewed food mixed with saliva— to pass into the digestive system while protecting the airways and lungs from the risk of aspiration and/or penetration.
Swallowing is a process that is partly voluntary and partly reflexive, as some stages are beyond our control and are therefore involuntary. If complications arise during this process, there can be serious consequences, such as aspiration pneumonia.
Recognizing this disorder in time is crucial for the patient's safety and life.
What are the causes of dysphagia?
Dysphagia can have various causes and, according to the American Gastroenterological Society, can be classified as follows:
- Neurological – brain tumors, head trauma, stroke, cerebral palsy, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Huntington's disease, polio, post-polio syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, metabolic encephalopathies, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease;
- Structural – cricopharyngeal bar, Zenker's diverticulum, cervical scars, oropharyngeal tumors, congenital malformations, osteophytes, and skeletal malformations;
- Myopathic – connective tissue diseases (overlap syndrome), dermatomyositis, myasthenia gravis, sarcoidosis, myotonic dystrophy, oculopharyngeal dystrophy, polymyositis, paraneoplastic syndromes;
- Iatrogenic – side effects of drug therapies, consequences of muscle or neurogenic surgery, effects of exposure to radiation, corrosive (injury from pills, intentional);
- Infectious – diphtheria, botulism, Lyme disease, syphilis, mucositis (from herpes, cytomegalovirus, candida, etc.);
- Metabolic – amyloidosis, Cushing's syndrome, thyrotoxicosis, Wilson's disease.
If you suspect you have dysphagia, it is advisable to contact your doctor and follow the necessary steps to diagnose this disorder in order to understand its severity and how to respond to it.
