The correct medical term for difficulty swallowing is dysphagia, which may arise from a number of different conditions. There are three main ways in which dysphagia presents. Knowing this can help your doctor diagnosis the cause of the condition and create a suitable treatment plan.
Oral Dysphagia
Oral dysphagia stems from problems in the mouth that may be the result of an underlying health problem. Weakness in the tongue muscles can develop after a stroke, making actions such as chewing or swallowing food difficult.
Pharyngeal Dysphagia
Conditions that have a neurological origin may result in problems swallowing, because the act of swallowing impacts the nerves of the throat. Common conditions that can lead to pharyngeal dysphagia include stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Esophageal Dysphagia
If the esophagus is blocked or irritated, it may cause difficulty swallowing. This condition is known as esophageal dysphagia. It typically requires surgical intervention.
If you are having trouble swallowing, it is important to book an appointment with Gastroenterology Diagnostic Center (GDC) to get to the root of the problem. Some of the serious conditions that may lead to dysphagia are listed below:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Diffuse spasm
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Achalasia
- Eosinophilic esophagitis
- Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism syndromes
- Myasthenia gravis (Goldflam disease)
- Xerostomia (dry mouth)
- Cleft lip and palate
Call our Tomball, Texas, offices today to arrange a checkup if you have any issues chewing or swallowing food. Your gastrointestinal health is our main focus.