Ask the Doctors: Dysphagia common in elderly
Source: journalstar.com Author: [email protected] Dear Doctor: Why do the elderly often have a hard time swallowing, and sometimes experience a feeling that food is stuck in their throats? I heard there's a procedure to stretch the throat. Does it help? Dear Reader: The condition you're asking about is known as dysphagia, which refers to difficulty in swallowing. Patients may have trouble starting a swallow, or problems with the esophagus, which is the muscular tube that connects the throat with the stomach. The origins of the disorder fall into several basic categories. There are neurological causes, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia and head injury. Certain muscular conditions can affect the proper functioning of the esophagus. So does obstruction, which can result from a narrowing of the esophagus, or from inflammation. These can be caused by head and neck cancers, radiation therapy, tuberculosis and chronic acid reflux. Although dysphagia can affect people of all ages, you're correct that it's seen more often in older adults. This is commonly due to age-related changes in the body, such as loss of muscle tone, mass and strength, and changes to nerve function. Still, dysphagia is not considered to be a normal sign of aging. Understanding dysphagia starts with the mechanics of swallowing. We tend to think of it as the "gulp" that empties the mouth. But that's just the first step of a complex process. A successful swallow moves the contents of your mouth through the throat, and all the way down [...]