Dysphagia or swallowing disorders commonly affect patients receiving care from physicians in the office, as nursing home residents and as hospital inpatients. Patients often complain of dysphagia due to medical problems such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, cerebrovascular accidents, stroke, Parkinsons disease and side effects of medications. Patients who have had a stroke are at a high risk of aspiration because of swallowing disorders.
Anyone can suffer from dysphagia, but this condition has severe consequences for the seniors. Swallowing disorders can also result in aspiration pneumonia and death. It is advisable to consult with a doctor if you often experience difficulties when swallowing or if regurgitation, weight loss or vomiting accompanies your swallowing disorder. You should call for emergency help immediately, if an obstruction prevents you from breathing properly. By performing a dysphagia evaluation, speech-language physicians and doctors can determine the cause of the issue.
Physicians perform various tests to determine the cause of the problem. One of these tests is the barium X ray. During the test, doctors ask patients to consume a barium solution that coats the esophagus, making it easier to see it in X-ray images. The physician can see any changes in the way the esophagus is shaped and view how the muscles are working. The doctors may also ask patients to swallow solid food or a pill with a barium coating to evaluate the throat muscles during swallowing. This enables doctors to look out for blockages that may not be identified by using the barium solution.
The other test that doctors perform is the dynamic swallowing study. During this test, you will swallow foods coated with barium and have different consistencies. The test will provide an image of these foods while they are traveling through the mouth and down the throat. The images may show issues in the way your mouth and throat muscles coordinate as you swallow and determine if the food is getting into your breathing tube.
Doctors also perform an endoscopy. This procedure involves examining the esophagus using a thin, lighted and flexible device known as an endoscope. Physicians may also take biopsies of the esophagus to determine if a tumor, eosinophilic esophagitis, narrowing or inflammation is present.
Doctors also perform manometry, also referred to as the esophageal muscle exam. During this exam, physicians insert a tiny tube into the esophagus. They then connect this tube to a pressure recorder to measure the contractions of the muscles of the esophagus when swallowing.
Another test that doctors carry out is an imaging scan, such as the CT scan. The CT scan merges serial X-ray views with computer processing to come up with cross section pictures of muscles and bones. Doctors may also request patients to undergo an MRI scan so that they can get detailed images of organs and tissues.
After the evaluation, the doctor or speech-language pathologist will discuss the results with you and your family if necessary. The doctor may ask you to avoid eating certain food items or change the thickness of the liquids you consume. The doctor will also recommend the most appropriate treatment depending on the cause or type of dysphagia you have.
Anyone can suffer from dysphagia, but this condition has severe consequences for the seniors. Swallowing disorders can also result in aspiration pneumonia and death. It is advisable to consult with a doctor if you often experience difficulties when swallowing or if regurgitation, weight loss or vomiting accompanies your swallowing disorder. You should call for emergency help immediately, if an obstruction prevents you from breathing properly. By performing a dysphagia evaluation, speech-language physicians and doctors can determine the cause of the issue.
Physicians perform various tests to determine the cause of the problem. One of these tests is the barium X ray. During the test, doctors ask patients to consume a barium solution that coats the esophagus, making it easier to see it in X-ray images. The physician can see any changes in the way the esophagus is shaped and view how the muscles are working. The doctors may also ask patients to swallow solid food or a pill with a barium coating to evaluate the throat muscles during swallowing. This enables doctors to look out for blockages that may not be identified by using the barium solution.
The other test that doctors perform is the dynamic swallowing study. During this test, you will swallow foods coated with barium and have different consistencies. The test will provide an image of these foods while they are traveling through the mouth and down the throat. The images may show issues in the way your mouth and throat muscles coordinate as you swallow and determine if the food is getting into your breathing tube.
Doctors also perform an endoscopy. This procedure involves examining the esophagus using a thin, lighted and flexible device known as an endoscope. Physicians may also take biopsies of the esophagus to determine if a tumor, eosinophilic esophagitis, narrowing or inflammation is present.
Doctors also perform manometry, also referred to as the esophageal muscle exam. During this exam, physicians insert a tiny tube into the esophagus. They then connect this tube to a pressure recorder to measure the contractions of the muscles of the esophagus when swallowing.
Another test that doctors carry out is an imaging scan, such as the CT scan. The CT scan merges serial X-ray views with computer processing to come up with cross section pictures of muscles and bones. Doctors may also request patients to undergo an MRI scan so that they can get detailed images of organs and tissues.
After the evaluation, the doctor or speech-language pathologist will discuss the results with you and your family if necessary. The doctor may ask you to avoid eating certain food items or change the thickness of the liquids you consume. The doctor will also recommend the most appropriate treatment depending on the cause or type of dysphagia you have.
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