Dysphagia in Baton Rouge, LA
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Find a ProviderWhat is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is described as a person's struggle to swallow food or liquid. There are many reasons why someone might experience dysphagia. It could be because of muscle spasms, because they failed to chew their food sufficiently, or other internal situations. Dysphagia can also refer to the sensation of food being stuck in the chest or neck. If you have these symptoms and need care for dysphagia in Baton Rouge, LA, help is available. Contact our highly trained gastrointestinal doctors at Gastroenterology Associates at your earliest convenience to learn more about how we can help you get back to a better life.
What are the causes of dysphagia?
There are two variations of dysphagia and the causes are unique for both types.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia
Oropharyngeal dysphagia involves difficulty starting to swallow. Causes involving neuromuscular concerns are more common in this type of dysphagia. This is because the muscles in the mouth, the back of your throat, and the top portion of the esophagus share direct connections with the brain. Nerves in these locations are not immune to damage, which can result in complications with swallowing.
Sometimes, strictures (narrowed areas in the esophagus) or tumors forming in the posterior side of the throat can lead to trouble swallowing.
Esophageal dysphagia
Esophageal dysphagia has numerous causes, some of the most common being:
- Inflammation in the esophagus due to reflux
- Foreign body blockage in the esophagus
- Scarring in the esophagus from acid reflux (GERD)
- Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
- Achalasia (when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) can’t relax during swallowing because of abnormal nerve control)
- Esophageal muscle weakness
- Spasms in the esophagus
What are the symptoms of dysphagia?
The most common signs and symptoms of dysphagia include:
- Excessive salivation
- The feeling that food is stuck in the chest or throat
- Gagging or coughing when swallowing
- Discomfort while swallowing
- Food impaction (food getting stuck)
- Loss of voice
- Unexplained weight loss
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Acid reflux
- Lack of ability to swallow
- Regurgitation
- Pain in the chest
- Food or liquid regurgitates through the nose
What are the treatments for dysphagia?
At Gastroenterology Associates, we provide a variety of treatment options to help address the individualized needs of our patients. The most common treatments for dysphagia involve:
- Learning exercises to re-stimulate nerves that initiate the swallowing reflex
- Learning different swallowing techniques
- Surgery
- Esophageal dilation
- Medications to reduce acid reflux, muscle relaxers, or corticosteroids
- Special liquid diet or feeding tube (for extreme cases)
We can help your swallowing difficulties subside
If you or a loved one are dealing with any symptoms of dysphagia in Baton Rouge, LA, help is available. Set up a meeting with a GI physician at Gastroenterology Associates immediately if you consistently experience any combination of the above symptoms. It is important to visit one of our providers right away if weight loss or vomiting accompanies your trouble swallowing.
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