Swallowing Difficulty - What Causes It?
Swallowing difficulty, also known as dysphagia, occurs when a person experiences difficulties with any aspect of the swallowing procedure. Weak muscles in the tongue or cheek might make moving the food around during chewing difficult. Food fragments that are too large to swallow can become lodged in the throat and restrict the airway. Other conditions include the inability to initiate the swallowing reflex as a result of neurological issues or a stroke. Individuals with such challenges are unable to initiate muscular contractions that allow food to pass from the mouth to the stomach. An extra issue can arise when the throat muscles are unable to convey all of the food to the stomach. Food particles may fall or be sucked directly into the windpipe. This results in lung infection. In severe cases, the individual who is unable to swallow adequately may be unable to eat enough foods to stay healthy or maintain a proper weight. When liquids or foods get within the windpipe of a Dysphagia p...