{"id":4481,"date":"2023-04-03T15:24:41","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T15:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/?p=4481"},"modified":"2019-07-05T22:19:01","modified_gmt":"2019-07-05T19:19:01","slug":"difficulty-swallowing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/difficulty-swallowing\/","title":{"rendered":"Difficulty Swallowing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/difficulty-swallowing\/#Dysphagia\" >Dysphagia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/difficulty-swallowing\/#Other_symptoms_that_may_accompany_difficulty_swallowing\" >Other symptoms that may accompany difficulty swallowing:\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/difficulty-swallowing\/#Causes_of_dysphagia\" >Causes of dysphagia:\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/difficulty-swallowing\/#Oesophageal_disorders\" >Oesophageal disorders:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/difficulty-swallowing\/#Treatment_of_Dysphagia\" >Treatment of Dysphagia:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/difficulty-swallowing\/#Difficulty_Swallowing_Complications\" >Difficulty Swallowing: Complications\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dysphagia\"><\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Dysphagia<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div>\n<div style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/67.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Difficulty Swallowing.ent\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/67-300x180.jpg\" alt=\"Difficulty Swallowing.ent\" width=\"300\" height=\"180\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Difficulty Swallowing<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Difficulty swallowing also known as dysphagia is the disruption of the normal process of the transfer of food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Often, dysphagia makes it difficult to obtain enough calories and fluids, therefore, can lead to serious medical problems such as dehydration and weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_symptoms_that_may_accompany_difficulty_swallowing\"><\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Other symptoms that may accompany difficulty swallowing:\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Cough<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Hoarseness<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ent.gr\/en\/ent-the-larynx\/reflux-of-gastric-fluid-into-the-larynx\/\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Reflux of gastric fluids<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Weight Loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Pneumonia due \u00a0to aspiration<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Dehydration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Causes_of_dysphagia\"><\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Causes of dysphagia:\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Neurological disorders:<\/span> Certain disorders, such as post-polio syndrome, multiple sclerosis, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/muscular-dystrophy\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20375388\">muscular dystrophy<\/a> and Parkinson&#8217;s disease, may first be noticed because of oropharyngeal dysphagia.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Neurological damage:<\/span> Sudden neurological damage, such as from a stroke or brain or spinal cord injury, can cause difficulty swallowing or an inability to swallow.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Pharyngeal diverticula:<\/span> A small pouch forms and collects food particles in your throat, often just above your esophagus, leading to difficulty swallowing, gurgling sounds, bad breath, and repeated throat clearing or coughing.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Cancer:<\/span> Certain cancers and some cancer treatments, such as radiation, can cause difficulty swallowing.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Oesophageal_disorders\"><\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Oesophageal disorders:<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Obstruction of foreign body<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Esophageal Stenosis<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Cancer of the esophagus<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Esophageal Achalasia<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Treatment_of_Dysphagia\"><\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Treatment of Dysphagia:<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Treatment usually depends on the cause and type of dysphagia. The type of dysphagia will be clarified after the clinical and laboratory testing with endoscopy, an\u00a0X-ray with a contrast material (barium X-ray) and a dynamic swallowing study if necessary.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Conservative treatments include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Change in eating habits<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Drinking fluids<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Medication for gastro-oesophageal reflux<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Exercises for swallowing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Surgical Methods\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Esophageal dilation.\u00a0For a tight esophageal sphincter (achalasia) or an esophageal stricture, your doctor may use an endoscope with a special balloon attached to gently stretch and expand the width of your esophagus or pass a flexible tube or tubes to stretch the esophagus (dilatation).<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/68.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ent.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/68-300x288.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"288\" \/><\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Surgery.\u00a0For an esophageal tumor, achalasia or pharyngeal diverticula, you may need surgery to clear your esophageal path.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Feeding tube.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Difficulty_Swallowing_Complications\"><\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: 14pt;\">Difficulty Swallowing: Complications\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Chronic dry cough<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Aspiration pneumonia<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Significant Weight Loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt;\">Dehydration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row pix_padding_top=&#8221;pix-top-no-padding&#8221; 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