SHARES
Eating well is fundamental to one’s overall good health and wellbeing. However, the pleasure of enjoying food may be a luxury to some due to dysphagia — an inability to swallow.
In this article, we speak to Dr Paul Mok, an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon at My ENT Specialist, Farrer Park Hospital, to learn about the condition and find out if it is possible to reverse it.
The Reason behind Dysphagia
People with dysphagia experience difficulty in swallowing. As a result, more time will be required for food and liquid to reach the stomach. While it may seem like a simple action, swallowing food is far more complex than imagined. Indeed, it requires the brain, nerves, muscles, two muscular valves and a functional esophagus to work hand in hand.
Touching on the importance of this coordination, Dr Mok said:
“The act of swallowing is finely coordinated by the brain and executed through nerve connections via the muscles of the throat. Diseases affecting the brain, such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke or dementia, as well as the nerves and muscles can impair one’s ability to swallow.”
When food is unable to transit smoothly from the throat into the esophagus, aspiration of food into the lungs can happen and lead to pneumonia, a life-threatening situation especially in the frail and elderly.
Risk of Dysphagia Increases with Age
The elderlies are at a higher risk of dysphagia due to strokes and degenerative diseases of the brain.
“They may also be frail and be on medication for other health concerns that may cause mouth dryness, making swallowing more difficult. If food goes into the wrong tract and ends up in the lungs, they will have a hard time coughing it up,” Dr Mok added.
Swallowing Normally Again with Dysphagia
With early detection and treatment, dysphagia can be overcome. If one displays symptoms such as choking on food or drink easily, coughing during or after swallowing, and have been experiencing trouble moving food to the back of their mouth, they should visit an ENT specialist as soon as possible for a head and neck evaluation.
Depending on the severity of the dysfunction, the patient may require swallowing or speech therapy, or even surgery.
“In severe cases where there is a high risk of aspiration, feeding is sometimes impossible. A feeding tube may be helpful in these scenarios. We also work closely with nutritionists to optimize meal plans to prevent malnutrition and dehydration,” Dr Mok revealed.
As the population ages, it is imperative to detect dysphagia early to prevent health hazards.
Dr Paul Mok Kan Hwei, Senior Consultant and Medical Director of My ENT Specialist Clinic, contributed this article in collaboration with Farrer Park Hospital. Read the original article here.
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by Joanne Lee
Multipotentialite. Loves creating and seeing ideas come alive. View all articles by Joanne Lee.
