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Swallowing Difficulty

Information about Swallowing Difficulty

We Have to Know about the Swallowing Difficulty

  • It is the sensation that food is stuck in the throat or upper chest
  • May be felt high in the neck or behind the breast bone

Could be dangerous, if the answer is YES for any one of the following questions

  • Did it follow accidental ingestion of a foreign body or hard food item (like fish bone)?

Causes of Swallowing Difficulty

  • Anxiety
  • Obstruction disorders of food pipe (esophagus) like tumors
  • Muscle disorders (like myasthenia gravis, dystrophy)
  • stroke

Do’s and Don’ts – Swallowing Difficulty

  • Eat slowly
  • Chew food thoroughly
  • Avoid very cold or very hot foods

Signs & Symptoms of Swallowing Difficulty

When to seek medical advice  for Swallowing Difficulty

  • If the problem persists
  • If accompanied by other symptoms such as wheezing, fever, chest pain, cough, pain with swallowing, etc

Risk factors of Swallowing Difficulty

Treatment for Swallowing Difficulty

  • Depends on the cause
  • Medicines
  • Some cases require surgery

Self-care for Swallowing Difficulty

Investigations May require:

  • Barium swallow
  • X-ray chest
  • Endoscopy