Information
Dysphagia, pronounced dis-FAH-juh, is the medical name for swallowing difficulties. This type of difficulty usually occurs due to an underlying condition including stroke, head injury, learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and head and neck cancer. Swallowing becomes difficult because the muscles used for chewing and swallowing (lips, jaw, tongue, palate and throat muscles) become weak or uncoordinated. As a result food and drink can go into the lungs instead of the stomach, known more often as ‘going down the wrong way’. This can cause serious chest infections and even pneumonia. Some people with dysphagia will only have problems swallowing certain types of food or drink, others cannot swallow anything at all.
Resources
complete-guide-to-dysphagia
Information
Dysphagia, pronounced dis-FAH-juh, is the medical name for swallowing difficulties. This type of difficulty usually occurs due to an underlying condition including stroke, head injury, learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and head and neck cancer. Swallowing becomes difficult because the muscles used for chewing and swallowing (lips, jaw, tongue, palate and throat muscles) become weak or uncoordinated. As a result food and drink can go into the lungs instead of the stomach, known more often as ‘going down the wrong way’. This can cause serious chest infections and even pneumonia. Some people with dysphagia will only have problems swallowing certain types of food or drink, others cannot swallow anything at all.
Resources
complete-guide-to-dysphagia