Disorders of coordination between the nervous system and muscles of the pharynx, narrowing or prolonged obstruction of the esophagus, can cause difficulty swallowing.
Difficulty swallowing is a condition in which food or water gets stuck in the throat and has difficulty reaching the stomach. This process requires coordination between the muscles and nerves of the mouth, throat and esophagus. These parts do not coordinate well, causing the patient to have difficulty swallowing.
MSc.BS.CK1 Thai Ngoc Han, Center for Endoscopy and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said difficulty swallowing can be caused by coughing or choking when trying to swallow food, eating too fast or not chewing thoroughly (not a cause for concern). This condition is often the result of nervous system and brain disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, and mechanical obstruction in the pharynx and esophagus. These pathological causes require timely treatment.
Nervous system and brain disorders: Diseases that affect the brain and nervous system can cause difficulty swallowing such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, benign or malignant brain tumors, cerebral palsy, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s.
Muscle disorders: Some muscle disorders that can cause choking include achalasia, cricopharyngeal spasm, esophageal spasm, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, myositis, and scleroderma.
Doctor Han examines the patient. Image: Tam Anh General Hospital
Stenosis, blockage and structural problems: According to Dr. Han, blockage in the throat or esophagus that causes difficulty swallowing can be caused by cancer. Tumors in the head and neck that interfere with eating include esophageal cancer – the most common type of cancer that causes difficulty swallowing. Eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal diverticula, esophageal ring (or Schatzki ring), gastroesophageal reflux also affect the structure of the esophagus, leading to this condition.
Difficulty swallowing can occur due to strep throat (bacterial tonsillitis), following head and neck surgery. Other treatments such as radiotherapy destroy head and neck cancers, damaging tissues related to swallowing.
Dr. Han said that depending on the cause of the disease as well as the severity of the disease, treatment is different. Treatment methods include internal medicine, esophageal dilation, botulinum injection (botox) or some procedures (such as esophageal dilation) if the patient has esophageal spasm, esophageal stricture or motility disorders. If the patient has esophageal cancer, the doctor prescribes resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or palliative treatment.
Difficulty swallowing can occur at any age but is common in adults. If the disease is not treated, not detected and intervened in time, it can lead to malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia due to food or water entering the airways, food being blocked in the airways, requiring emergency treatment to avoid danger. chance of death.
Dr. Han recommends that patients see a doctor when they choke frequently and the frequency increases. People with choking in the neck with difficulty breathing, sudden muscle weakness, inability to swallow food… should see a doctor as soon as possible. In case the patient is suspected of esophageal damage, the doctor will prescribe a number of diagnostic tests such as esophagoscopy, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, bronchoscopy.