Problems in swallowing are grouped under the term "dysphagia". Swallowing problems are demonstrated in many ways. For instance, you may find it difficult to swallow a large chunk of food, or when you eat too fast. The problem can be severe enough to make it nearly impossible to get liquids from the mouth to the stomach. A swallow study for dysphagia helps to correctly diagnose the condition. This is the first step toward identifying the location and extent of the swallowing problem.
Occasional swallowing problems may not require that any medical intervention be done. The problem can worsen as a person gets older, so that action must eventually be taken.
The symptoms of dysphagia might be occasional problems with swallowing a large piece of food. It could be significant pain related to each swallow. Some patients experience a sensation of feeling as if food is stuck in the esophagus. Others not only feel the obstruction, but actually have a narrowing of the esophageal tube so that food actually can get stuck.
There are multiple different causes for dysphagia. They include achalasia, diffuse spasm, esophageal stricture or tumors. Foreign bodies or narrowing of the esophageal ring cause difficulty swallowing solid food. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)is a common problem which causes increasing scarring and damage to the esophagus, due to the action of stomach acid. Eosinophilic esophagitis, scleroderma, and radiation therapy can each cause problems in the ability to swallow, or to move food into the stomach.
Several conditions are grouped as oropharyngeal dysphagia. The individual with these issues may experience choking, coughing or gagging on food when swallowing is attempted. In some instances, it feels as if liquids or foods have gone down the trachea. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or muscular dystrophy are neurological disorders which cause the symptoms. They can also arise from a brain or spinal cord injury or from a stroke. A pouch can form and food is trapped there in a condition called pharyngeal diverticula.
Diagnostic studies include inserting an endoscope (a small lighted tube) into the throat and using fiber-optics to visually examine the throat. Measuring the muscle pressure in the throat requires a manometry procedure.
Imaging studies include a barium X-ray, which involves drinking a barium solution or swallowing a pill coated with barium A CT scan combines multiple x-rays to produce cross sectional pictures of the bones and soft tissues in the throat. An MRI scan utilizes magnetic and radio waves. A PET scan (positron emission tomography) utilizes a radioactive tracer to determine the functionality of organs and tissues.
The dynamic study for dysphagia requires the patient to swallow various consistencies of food, each coated with barium. The barium allows for tracking the functionality of the muscles and structure of the throat. The images track the path of the food as it travels down the throat. This set of images will allow the doctor to determine where the problems or weaknesses are located.
Occasional swallowing problems may not require that any medical intervention be done. The problem can worsen as a person gets older, so that action must eventually be taken.
The symptoms of dysphagia might be occasional problems with swallowing a large piece of food. It could be significant pain related to each swallow. Some patients experience a sensation of feeling as if food is stuck in the esophagus. Others not only feel the obstruction, but actually have a narrowing of the esophageal tube so that food actually can get stuck.
There are multiple different causes for dysphagia. They include achalasia, diffuse spasm, esophageal stricture or tumors. Foreign bodies or narrowing of the esophageal ring cause difficulty swallowing solid food. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)is a common problem which causes increasing scarring and damage to the esophagus, due to the action of stomach acid. Eosinophilic esophagitis, scleroderma, and radiation therapy can each cause problems in the ability to swallow, or to move food into the stomach.
Several conditions are grouped as oropharyngeal dysphagia. The individual with these issues may experience choking, coughing or gagging on food when swallowing is attempted. In some instances, it feels as if liquids or foods have gone down the trachea. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or muscular dystrophy are neurological disorders which cause the symptoms. They can also arise from a brain or spinal cord injury or from a stroke. A pouch can form and food is trapped there in a condition called pharyngeal diverticula.
Diagnostic studies include inserting an endoscope (a small lighted tube) into the throat and using fiber-optics to visually examine the throat. Measuring the muscle pressure in the throat requires a manometry procedure.
Imaging studies include a barium X-ray, which involves drinking a barium solution or swallowing a pill coated with barium A CT scan combines multiple x-rays to produce cross sectional pictures of the bones and soft tissues in the throat. An MRI scan utilizes magnetic and radio waves. A PET scan (positron emission tomography) utilizes a radioactive tracer to determine the functionality of organs and tissues.
The dynamic study for dysphagia requires the patient to swallow various consistencies of food, each coated with barium. The barium allows for tracking the functionality of the muscles and structure of the throat. The images track the path of the food as it travels down the throat. This set of images will allow the doctor to determine where the problems or weaknesses are located.
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