What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a type of swallowing disorder that makes it hard for you to eat, drink or swallow saliva. Some people with dysphagia can’t swallow at all.
Occasional swallowing problems affect everyone. You may have a hard time swallowing food if you don’t chew it well enough or feel like something “went down the wrong way” if you eat or drink too quickly. Dysphagia, however, causes regular, ongoing swallowing difficulties that, untreated, can lead to malnutrition (not getting the nutrients your body needs), dehydration, weight loss and other concerns.
Dysphagia can develop as you get older and the muscles that help you swallow become weak. But it’s not a condition on its own. Dysphagia can be a symptom of many conditions that affect your nerves, muscles or esophagus. Your doctor can help you find what’s causing your dysphagia and treat the cause or offer ways to improve your ability to swallow.
Types of dysphagia
Doctors might categorize dysphagia based on how it affects your ability to swallow.
Swallowing happens in four phases. First, chewing or gathering food or drinks in your mouth gets them ready for you to swallow (oral preparation phase). Second, your tongue moves foods and drinks toward your throat (oral phase). Third, food moves from your throat into your esophagus (pharyngeal phase). Finally, food travels down your esophagus into your stomach (esophageal stage).
Dysphagia can cause problems at each stage.
- Oropharyngeal dysphagia: Foods and liquids don’t travel from your throat into your esophagus as they should.
- Esophageal dysphagia: Swallowing difficulty occurs because of problems with the structure of your esophagus or its ability to move foods and drinks to your stomach.
Dysphagia symptoms
Dysphagia makes swallowing difficult, but what “difficult” looks like can vary. Some people may have problems swallowing only solids or liquids, while others may have difficulties swallowing both. Some symptoms affect the act of swallowing, and others show up a few seconds later.
Symptoms of dysphagia can include:
- Aspirating (inhaling) food
- Choking on foods or drinks or gagging when trying to swallow
- Coughing up food or blood
- Difficulty breathing while eating
- Drooling
- Feeling like something you’re trying to swallow is stuck in your throat or chest
- Foods and drinks coming out through the nose
- Having foods, drinks or stomach acids come back up into your throat (regurgitation)
- Heartburn that occurs frequently
- Hoarseness or other changes to your voice, such as gurgling
- Pain when you’re trying to swallow
- Taking longer than usual or using more effort to chew or swallow
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you or someone you’re caring for has the symptoms of dysphagia listed above. Symptoms, such as drooling, choking, pain or problems swallowing, usually need attention as soon as you can see your doctor. Dysphagia can lead to aspiration pneumonia.
If someone is choking and cannot breathe, call 911.
Complications
Dysphagia can be isolating. You may not want to eat in social settings if you have trouble swallowing or symptoms that might feel embarrassing. You may also enjoy meals less than you used to.
Physically, dysphagia can cause long-term and potentially serious complications, including:
- Aspiration: When you inhale food into your lungs, harmful bacteria can enter your airways and cause pneumonia. Long-term aspiration can lead to chronic lung disease.
- Choking: Choking on food that you cannot swallow can be fatal.
- Dehydration, malnutrition and weight loss: Dysphagia can prevent your body from getting the liquid and nutrients you need. Over time, you can lose too much weight.
Find care close to home if you have difficulty swallowing
At Baylor Scott & White, we offer several locations for the treatment of diseases of the digestive system, including dysphagia, at gastroenterology centers across North and Central Texas. Our experienced team is ready to provide personalized care to help improve your quality of life. Whether you're seeking diagnostic testing, treatment options or ongoing support, we are here to help you.
