Dysphagia treatment

Contact Us for More Information. How can dysphagia be treated? Is there a cure for dysphagia? What is the prognosis of dysphagia? Why is it difficult to swallow certain foods?

For a tight esophageal sphincter (achalasia) or an esophageal stricture, your doctor may use an endoscope with a special balloon attached to gently stretch and expand the width of your esophagus or pass a flexible tube or tubes to stretch the esophagus (dilation). Complex swallowing problems may require treatment by a specialist or several specialists. Continued If you have a chewing or swallowing problem there are several things you can do to make eating. Compensatory techniques alter the swallow when used but do not create lasting functional change.

DiltiazeCan aid in esophageal contractions and motility, especially in the disorder known as. Cystine-depleting therapy with. Swallowing is the complex coordination of muscle contractions between the mouth, tongue, throat and esophagus.

You may be referred to a speech and language therapist (SLT) for swallowing therapy. You may be referred to a dietitian for advice about changes to your diet. Feeding tubes can be used to provide nutrition.

Treatments for oropharyngeal dysphagia Swallowing therapy. Postural adjustments are changes in body and head posture. Swallow maneuvers address different physiologic swallowing problems. Hospitals and long-term care facilities frequently use thickened. Medication is one of the first treatments for dysphagia related to reflux.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medications that reduce stomach acids and relieve symptoms of GERD. The treatment of dysphagia varies and depends on the cause of the dysphagia. One option for supporting patients either transiently or long-term until the cause of the dysphagia resolves is a feeding tube. The tube for feeding may be passed nasally into the stomach or through the abdominal wall into the stomach or small intestine.

Lifestyle changes can help make eating and swallowing more comfortable. Surgery may be necessary for patients dealing with severe reflux that is. The cause of the problem will determine the type of treatment. The most common dysphagia treatments are listed below. Exercises can strengthen the muscles in the throat and chest involved with swallowing.

A speech pathologist or other experienced medical professional may be able to teach these exercises. There are many ways to treat dysphagia , such as swallowing therapy, dietary changes, feeding tubes, certain medications, and surgery. A person with dysphagia suffers from overly tight muscles. The key area to treat is the jaw muscle, the digastric.

However, since muscles are connected to one another. A speech-language pathologist may recommend: specific swallowing treatment (e.g., exercises to improve muscle movement) positions or strategies to help the individual swallow more effectively. Many cases of dysphagia can be improved by changing position.

In patients who suffered from dysphagia after a physical injury, changes in posture were effective at alleviating symptoms. The change in posture also made it much easier for patients to swallow. Sometimes, medicine or other treatments may be used to treat the cause of dysphagia.

For example, if your dysphagia is caused by heartburn, your doctor might suggest taking an antacid or acid reducer before every meal. If you have a muscle problem causing dysphasia, a medicine called botulinum toxin may be used to relax throat muscles.