Dysphagia (swallowing problems)

Symptoms of dysphagia

Some people with dysphagia have problems swallowing certain foods or drinks, while others cannot swallow at all.

Signs of dysphagia include:

• coughing or choking when eating or drinking
• bringing food back up, sometimes through the nose
• food getting stuck in your throat or chest
• a gurgly, wet-sounding voice after eating or drinking

You may also drool and have problems chewing your food.

Over time, dysphagia can also cause symptoms such as weight loss, dehydration and repeated chest infections.

Causes of dysphagia

Dysphagia is usually caused by another health condition and can happen at any age.

You may be more likely to have dysphagia if you:

• take some medicines, such as antipsychotics
• have a learning disability
• have a condition which causes inflammation in your food pipe, called eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE)
• have heartburn and acid reflux, especially in children or people who have gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
• have problems with your breathing caused by conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• have a condition that affects the nervous system or brain, such as cerebral palsy, a stroke, dementia or multiple sclerosis
• have cancer, such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer, or have been treated for cancer

Dysphagia can be caused by achalasia, a rare disorder of the foodpipe (oesophagus).

Babies with a cleft lip and palate can also have dysphagia.

When and where to get medical help

If you, your child or someone you care for is having difficulty swallowing, it's important to get checked.

Treatments for dysphagia

A doctor will examine you and may refer you to a specialist for further tests in hospital, for example an endoscopy.

If they think there's something stuck in your food pipe, you will need to have the blockage removed.

Depending on the cause of your swallowing difficulties, you may also be referred to a speech and language therapist or a dietitian. They can give you advice about swallowing and your diet.

Treatment for dysphagia depends on what's causing it and how severe it is.

If your swallowing problems are being caused by a condition like acid reflux, the problem may get better on its own.

But if the cause is longer term, you may need specialist treatment to make eating and drinking as safe as possible.

This may include:

• medicines to treat acid reflux or eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE)
• swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
• making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
• using special spoons, plates and cups
• feeding tubes through your nose or a hole into your stomach
• a medical procedure or surgery to widen your food pipe (oesophagus)
• injections to relax the muscles in your oesophagus and allow food and drink to reach the stomach