Voice & Swallowing Problems
Dysphagia
Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing, a symptom that can arise from various medical conditions affecting the throat, oesophagus, or nerves and muscles involved in swallowing. It can affect people of all ages, from infants to the elderly, and may range from mild discomfort to severe impairment.
Dysphagia may be caused by one or more of the following:
Structural causes like Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD), oesophageal strictures, oesophageal rings, or webs or tumours.
Neurological causes like stroke, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.
Muscular causes like achalasia, oesophageal spasm or myasthenia gravis.
Other causes like radiation therapy, scleroderma (connective tissue disorder that can affect the oesophagus) and Zenker's Diverticulum (a pouch that forms at the junction of the throat and oesophagus, trapping food).
Symptoms of dysphagia range from pain while swallowing (odynophagia), feeling of food sticking in the throat or chest (globus sensation), regurgitation of food or liquids, coughing or choking while eating or drinking, hoarse voice or frequent throat clearing, and weight loss or malnutrition due to difficulty eating.
A clinical evaluation includes a physical examination along with other diagnostic tools like endoscopy, barium swallow and oesophageal manometry, used to measure pressure and muscle contractions in the food pipe. Further testing includes CT or MRI imaging and pH monitoring.
Since the underlying cause of dysphagia can vary from one case to another, treatment options also vary. Some can be treated with medication while others may need speech or swallowing therapy, diet changes etc. There may be cases when surgical intervention like dilation or Heller myotomy may be required.
