Dysphagia is a condition that some people may develop for a range of reasons. The main symptom of this condition is problems with swallowing liquids and foods. This can quickly become a serious problem, as it might prevent you from getting all the nutrients that you need to keep you healthy from your food. If you are struggling with dysphagia symptoms, then it’s recommended that you speak to a medical professional as early as possible. They can help you with finding different ways to manage the condition, so that it does not have a lasting impact on your health.
What are the Symptoms?
The main symptom of dysphagia is trouble swallowing. Many people who have this condition will also suffer from other symptoms like pain while swallowing or eating, heartburn on a regular basis, and over-salivation. Regurgitation of food and fluid on a frequent basis, often happening at unexpected times is another common symptom. All these can make dysphagia a challenging, unpleasant condition to deal with. There are, thankfully, several options to consider when it comes to condition management.
Dysphagia Diet
If you have dysphagia, it might be easier for you to follow a special diet rather than trying to eat regular foods. This might be recommended by a doctor, such as a mechanical soft diet. There are several foods that are naturally soft and easy to eat and might be recommended to you by a medical professional. You can also blend and puree foods to make them easier to swallow.
Specialist Products
There are several products that you can purchase to help with the management of dysphagia. Liquids in particular can be difficult to swallow with this condition, so you may be interested in getting a product that is designed to thicken the liquid up such as a thickening gel from the Simply Thick LLC company. By adding this product to liquid, you can thicken the consistency, making it much easier to eat and swallow without as much risk of aspiration or choking.
Swallowing Therapies
There are several exercises and therapies that you can perform in order to manage dysphagia better on a day-to-day basis. These exercises can be used to help reduce the symptoms and make the condition easier to live with. More often than not, they involve tongue and throat movements, techniques and exercises that are designed to improve your swallowing ability. You can ask your doctor to refer you to a speech and language therapist to get access to this treatment.
Tube Feeding
In the worst-case scenario when somebody is really struggling to swallow with dysphagia, then it might be necessary to introduce tube feeding. This can help stop the patient from becoming dehydrated and prevent malnutrition over time. Food fed through a tube can be directed through the nose rather than swallowing via the month using tube. This treatment can be arranged through your doctor or another health specialist.
Dysphagia can be a difficult condition to live with as it prevents you from getting the nutrients you need. These techniques for managing the condition can make it easier to cope.
