Is trouble swallowing life threatening?
However, if swallowing problems are persistent, they can result in malnutrition and dehydration, especially in the very young and in older adults. Recurrent respiratory infections and aspiration pneumonia are also likely. All of these complications are serious and life-threatening and must be treated definitively.
Can oral cancer cause difficulty swallowing?
Introduction. Dysphagia, derived from the Greek phagein, meaning “to eat,” is a common symptom of head and neck cancer and can be an unfortunate sequelae of its treatment. Dysphagia is any disruption in the swallowing process during bolus transport from the oral cavity to the stomach.
Can trouble swallowing be cured?
Many cases of dysphagia can be improved with treatment, but a cure isn’t always possible. Treatments for dysphagia include: speech and language therapy to learn new swallowing techniques. changing the consistency of food and liquids to make them safer to swallow.
What happens when you can’t swallow anymore?
Issues with swallowing can lead to choking. If food or liquid gets into your airways, it can cause a life-threatening condition called aspiration pneumonia. Swallowing problems can also lead to malnutrition and dehydration.
What happens if dysphagia is left untreated?
If left untreated dysphagia can lead to aspiration, the entry of foreign material (such as food, liquid, or secretions) into the airway. Aspiration increases the risk of developing pneumonia. Dysphagia can cause malnutrition, dehydration, decreased quality of life, weight loss, and even death.
How to cope with a swallowing difficulty?
The following suggestions may help with swallowing: Make sure you cut the food into small pieces, and make it soft enough to eat. Grind food or make it liquid using a blender or baby food grinder. Offer soft foods, such as ice cream, milk shakes, yogurt, soups, applesauce, gelatin, or custard. Don’t use a straw; it may cause more swallowing problems.
What can one do to relieve difficulty swallowing?
Drink plenty of fluids. Periodically suck on Popsicles, ice chips or lemon ice, or drink lemon-flavored water to increase saliva production, which will increase swallowing frequency. Minimize or eliminate foods that are tough to chew and eat more soft foods. Puree food in a blender.
What can cause difficulty swallowing?
Difficulty swallowing. Difficulty swallowing is usually the result of damage to the esophagus, blockage of the esophagus, or poor function of the nerves and muscles that control swallowing.
What medications cause difficulty swallowing?
This can cause pain and discomfort and make swallowing difficult. Medicines that are commonly known to have this effect include doxycycline, clindamycin, alendronate, aspirin and other NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac), potassium chloride, and ferrous sulfate.