Dysphagia in Thibodaux, LA
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Find a ProviderWhat is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is described as a person's difficulty or inability to ingest food and/or liquid. There could be a variety of explanations as to why someone has dysphagia. It could be due to spasms in the muscle, in the throat, or esophagus because they didn’t chew their food properly or additional internal problems. Dysphagia can also refer to the sensation of food being lodged in the chest or neck area. If you are experiencing symptoms and need care for dysphagia in Thibodaux, LA, help is available. Contact our knowledgeable GI providers at a Digestive Health Center near you today to learn more about treatments we can provide to assist you in getting back to your day-to-day life.
What causes dysphagia?
There are two variations of dysphagia and each variant has a unique cause.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a type of dysphagia that describes the difficulty you feel when you first start to swallow. Neuromuscular issues are the most common cause of dysphagia. Dysphagia could be caused by the muscles of the mouth, the rear of the throat, and the upper esophagus directly connecting with the brain. Nerves in these areas can be damaged, causing issues with swallowing.
In some instances, strictures (narrowed areas in the esophagus) or tumors growing in the rear of the throat can lead to trouble swallowing.
Esophageal dysphagia
Esophageal dysphagia has many different causes. Some of the most common causes are:
- Swelling in the esophagus from reflux
- Esophageal scarring from acid reflux (GERD)
- Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
- Esophageal muscle weakness
- Foreign body blockage in the esophagus
- Achalasia (when the lower esophageal sphincter can’t relax during swallowing because of a problem with nerve control)
- Spasms in the esophagus
What are the symptoms of dysphagia?
You can experience a variety of symptoms from dysphagia. The most common symptoms of dysphagia can include:
- Chest pain
- Food or liquid regurgitates via your nose
- Food impaction (food getting stuck)
- Discomfort when swallowing
- Lack of ability to swallow
- Regurgitation
- Unexplained weight loss
- Acid reflux
- Gagging or coughing while swallowing
- The sensation of food being stuck in your chest or throat
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Drooling
- Loss of voice
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above or difficulty swallowing, please reach out to one of our locations in Thibodaux, LA to request a consultation with a specialist.
How is dysphagia treated?
At Digestive Health Center, we offer a variety of treatment options to help meet the individualized needs of our patients. Common dysphagia treatments include:
- Learning exercises to re-stimulate nerves that initiate the reflex of swallowing
- Practicing different swallowing techniques
- Surgical intervention
- Dilation of the esophagus
- Medications to reduce acid reflux, muscle relaxers, or corticosteroids
- Special liquid diet or feeding tube (for severe cases)
Alleviate your dysphagia symptoms
If you or a member of your family are facing any symptoms of dysphagia in Thibodaux, LA, help is available. Request a consultation with a GI specialist at a Digestive Health Center in your community at your earliest convenience. It is important to meet with your provider as soon as possible if weight loss or vomiting accompanies any trouble swallowing.
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