DYSPHAGIA: IT MEANS DIFFICULTIES IN SWALLOWING FOODS & LIQUIDS
- Dysphagia comes from Greek word ‘dys’, which means difficulties, and ‘phagia’, which means swallowing.
- Medically, dysphagia is a term for swallowing difficulties. Someone with dysphagia takes more time and effort to move food or liquid from their mouth down to their stomach.
- Episodes of dysphagia can be intermittent or progressive.
IT IS A SYMPTOM FOR MANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS
- In adults, dysphagia is very common in adult that has a history of stroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, neck cancers, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- It could also be present in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
- Dysphagia can also be a sign that there are some issues with the many nerves and muscles that are involved in swallowing activities.