Oropharyngeal dysphagiais a disorder or impairment in the ability to swallow.
Additionally, dysphagia can be a sign of esophageal cancer.
In this article, we review what causes oropharyngeal dysphagia, the common complications, and treatments.
jeangill / Getty
jeangill / Getty
What Is Oropharyngeal Dysphagia?
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a medical condition that causes a disruption or delay in swallowing.
All of these can be early signs of oropharyngeal dysphagia.
Identifying the underlying cause of dysphagia is important as it can lead to better treatment selection.
In some cases, there can be multiple causes that combine to cause dysphagia.
The exact reasons these medications are causing a problem are not always well understood.
Some medications change the way food and liquids move through the esophagus.
In some cases, if the medications themselves are large enough, they can inflame and irritate the esophagus.
Specific testssuch as a swallow testcan evaluate the function of the oropharynx and determine if swallowing is impaired.
Treatment
The treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia varies depending on the specific cause.
In the cases where specific causes are identified, treatment of the underlying cause is the first step.
A speech-language pathologist can help evaluate the best foods for you to eat with oropharyngeal dysphagia.
Food modifiers, such as thickeners, are often used to make them easier to swallow.
A dilation procedure widens the esophagus so that food and liquids can pass through the obstruction.
Surgery
Severe oropharyngeal dysphagia can be treated with surgery in some cases.
The surgery usually involves removing obstructions that restrict the passage of food.
For these reasons, dysphagia is a serious medical issue that requires urgent treatment.
Summary
Oropharyngeal dysphagia causes you to lose the ability to swallow.
This is a serious medical condition that can be treated in numerous ways, depending on the underlying cause.
A Word From Verywell
Losing the ability to swallow properly can make you feel at a loss.
Swallowing is something that we dont often think about but is critical to our well-being.
Know there are many treatments, exercises, and lifestyle changes available to help manage dysphagia.
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