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Swallowing Disorders

Dysphagia, or swallowing disorder, is a term used to describe the inability to move food from the mouth to the stomach. This condition can accompany a neurological disorder such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, etc., as well as bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Dysphagia can occur at any of the 3 stages of swallowing: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal.

Depending on the type of swallowing disorder, changing a person’s diet by adding thickeners and physical therapy may help alleviate the problem in noninvasive ways. Sometimes drug therapy helps relieve symptoms of the underlying neurological cause and thus relieves the swallowing problems. Less commonly, botulinum toxin injections can be used when food or liquid cannot enter the esophagus. Severely affected individuals may require surgery or feeding tubes.

Dysphagia can occur at any of the following stages:

Ingestion phase

When biting and chewing your food, you may experience a lack of strength or control in the mouth, causing food to fall directly into the throat and choke you. This lack of feeling can be due to muscle or nerve disease, or even stroke.

Oral phase

As your tongue begins to push food to the back of the mouth in order to swallow, the process may trigger muscle contractions that cause the muscle that opens to let food into the esophagus to malfunction, leading to aspiration (food going down the windpipe) and choking.

Pharyngeal phase

Lack or inadequate muscle contractions in the esophagus – that help to push food down to the stomach – may cause food to remain in the chest area.

Esophageal phase

The lower esophagus has a sphincter that opens to let food into the stomach. If this muscle malfunctions, it may cause acidic stomach secretions to enter the esophagus, causing reflux.

Diagnosis and treatment

Swallowing problems usually cause:

  • Choking on food
  • Pain when swallowing
  • Heartburn
  • Food sticking in the throat
  • Sore throat or persistent cough
  • Hoarseness during/after meals
  • Wheezing
  • Feeling of a “lump in the throat”

The problem can be temporary, though it may also suggest a serious medical problem involving the muscle or nerves, head and neck injuries, stroke, cancer, or certain medications.

If the problem does not resolve on its own, please visit an ENT specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Cohen will perform various diagnostic tests, x-rays, and other exams, and recommend the most appropriate treatment for your case.

  • Aging
  • Acid reflux
  • Smoking
  • Improper use of your voice
  • Trauma to the voice box
  • Allergies – cold or respiratory tract virus
  • Conditions such as thyroid disorders, stroke, cancer, or neurological problems

In most cases, hoarseness tends to disappear on its own after a while. But if it lasts for more than 10 – 14 days, you should request an appointment with Dr. Cohen for diagnosis of larynx cancer or another cause.

To request an appointment with Dr. Cohen, please call (818) 609-0600.