Dysphagia is a common condition characterized by difficulty swallowing that can occur at any age, although it is most prevalent among the elderly. This condition 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 affecting the passage of food from the mouth to the stomach and can involve any stage of the swallowing process. Swallowing is the ability to transport solid, liquid, gaseous, or mixed substances (food or drink, either alone or together) from the mouth to the stomach.
It is a complex process that involves the rapid coordination of a group of muscles, which on the one hand allows the passage of the bolus —that is, food that has been chewed, mixed, and moistened with saliva—into the digestive tract, and on the other hand protects the airways and lungs from the risk of aspiration and/or foreign body 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, they can have serious consequences, such as aspiration pneumonia.
Recognizing this condition early is critical to the patient's safety and well-being.
What causes dysphagia?
Dysphagia can have various causes, and according to the American Gastroenterological Association, they can be classified as follows:
- Neurological – brain stem tumors, head trauma, stroke, cerebral palsy, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Huntington’s disease, poliomyelitis, 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 scarring, oropharyngeal tumors, congenital malformations, osteophytes, and skeletal malformations;
- Myopathies – connective tissue diseases (overlap syndrome), dermatomyositis, myasthenia gravis, sarcoidosis, myotonic dystrophy, oculopharyngeal dystrophy, polymyositis, paraneoplastic syndromes;
- Iatrogenic – side effects of drug therapy, post-surgical muscle or nerve damage, effects of radiation exposure, corrosive (injury caused by pills, intentional);
- Infectious diseases – diphtheria, botulism, Lyme disease, syphilis, mucositis (caused by herpes, cytomegalovirus, Candida, etc.);
- Metabolic disorders – 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 the condition in order to determine its severity and the appropriate course of treatment.
