Problems like eating and drinking are growing increasingly common. Due to which people can experience problems like painful swallowing, burning sensation, sharp pain, soreness, or voice change which cause a sensation of a lump in the throat. All of these signs can make swallowing difficult for the patients. This condition is known as Dysphagia.
When swallowing problems persist, most of the patients take over-the-counter available medication or consider home remedies as self-treatment. But if your condition is severe then you must seek treatment from a throat specialist in Delhi.
Generally, the type of swallowing varies. It can be of different types affecting muscles or nerves. It is a bit complex as Dysphagia can occur anywhere in the swallowing process.
Types of Dysphagia
There are three common types of Dysphagia. These are:
- Oral Dysphagia: It affects the mouth, sometimes caused by the tongue.
- Pharyngeal Dysphagia: It affects the throat. It is often caused by neurological problems.
- Esophageal Dysphagia: It affects the esophagus caused by a blockage in the throat.
It is worth diagnosing the type of Dysphagia so that the doctor can provide the best treatment for the problem.
Patients with Dysphagia experience difficulty in swallowing foods, liquids, or saliva. At times it might feel like something is stuck in the throat. It can cause a feeling like coughing or choking. In extreme cases, it is reported that it can cause weight loss and other medical conditions as the patient limits consumption of food.
A throat specialist is a qualified professional who helps to diagnose the following cause for painful swallowing:
- Dental issues
- Acid reflux
- Colds
- Throat infection
- Irritation in esophagus
- Brain stroke
- Chest injury
- Tumor in mouth
Note that untreated Dysphagia can lead to dehydration and malnutrition.
Dysphagia is not always serious nor difficult to cure. It requires immediate medical attention so that the food does not get stuck in the esophagus, block airways, or clog the lungs, causing serious problems like pneumonia.
Best Treatment for Dysphagia
The treatment for dysphagia depends on its cause. The ENT doctor in Delhi evaluated the swallowing disorder based on the diagnosis. At times the doctor uses an endoscopy test to monitor inside the mouth and throat. At times your doctor may suggest X-rays of the digestive tract. Thus, depending on the test result here are the common treatment your doctor may use to treat the condition:
- Muscle relaxant medication
- Inflammation or antioxidant medication to treat infection
- Change in diet based on the swallowing condition
- Swallow therapy
- Feeding through tube
- Change in a posture like tilting in the head while eating
- Exercise to strengthen facial muscles
Dysphagia is a painful illness. You need to consult a throat ENT specialist who has expertise in treating throat-related illness.
