What is Aphagia?
Aphagia is an inability or refusing to swallow food. It is often accompanied by a feeling of lump in the throat, a feeling of pain, or the feeling that the food will get stuck and move. The location of the problem can be anywhere from the back of the mouth to the esophagus sphincter, which controls the speed that the food is emptied into the stomach. The location of the blockade is usually lower than the location of a painful or paired feeling.
Many conditions can cause Afagia. They may include physical blockages from tumors, cervical disease or muscle narrowing from emotional anxiety disorder. Medicines, ulcers and radiation from cancer therapy can cause neck limitation, resulting in inability to swallow. In rare cases, afhagia may be caused by the presence of esophagus, the structural abnormality consisting of the membrane of the tissue that limits parts of the esophagus.Afagia is one of the symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. Neuromuscular disorders and autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis, muscle dystrophy and multiple sclerosis mayto reopene Afaki. Inability or difficult swallowing may be a symptom of Parkinson's disease, poliomyelitis or scleroderma.
Stroke is the main cause of Afagia, especially in older patients. Approximately half to two thirds of the victims of stroke have a certain degree of unlicated swallowing. The treatment of inability to swallow is essential because swallowing problems can cause victims to aspire to aspire food or fluid into the lungs and cause pneumonia, a source of one third of all deaths in the victims of the stroke.
The doctor is likely to perform several tests to determine the cause and treatment of Afágie. After a general examination, the physician may let the patient swallow the barrya to be X -ray to see how the liquid moves through the esophagus and the digestive tract. Other tests can measure the pressure and acidity of the esophagus. The doctor can put a small camera in the throat to see the esophagus.
If the patient has symptoms of Afagia, it is essential to maintainOut nutrition and hydration. It can be useful to eat slowly and chew thoroughly. If the symptoms continue, the patient may try to eat softer foods or push out solid foods to make it easier to reduce. Many people who are unable to swallow solid food are able to swallow liquids. Very hot or cold meals can worsen symptoms.
If these measures do not help, biofeedback or compensation of swallowing techniques can help. Different types of tubes can be used to replenish the nutrition and circumvent of the difficulty of swallowing. In rare cases, surgery may be required.