Dysphagia is a condition that causes difficulty swallowing. It takes more time for liquid and food to move to the stomach once it gets into the mouth. It can cause pain for some people with the condition.
Some people believe that they have dysphagia if they have difficulty swallowing when they don’t chew their food well, but they don’t have dysphagia. It is a condition that can occur at any age, but it usually happens to older adults.
If a person doesn’t seek treatment for dysphagia, it can get worse. For instance, if you are having issues swallowing on a regular basis and you’re chewing your food correctly, you need to seek medical treatment right away.
When you have dysphagia, there are eight general symptoms to look out for. When you seek medical treatment, you can tell your doctor what symptoms you are having, so he or she can determine if it’s dysphagia or not.
1. Being unable to swallow is a general symptom of dysphagia.
As stated before, some people who have difficulty swallowing think that they have dysphagia, but they don’t. They just don’t chew their food correctly. Even when you chew your food correctly, a person with dysphagia will still be unable to swallow. They may start to give up on eating because it takes them to long to eat their food. Even liquids can be difficult to swallow.
It can be embarrassing when you’re unable to swallow, especially if you’re at a restaurant. People will want to know why it’s taking you so long to eat. It is a good idea to seek medical attention, so that a doctor can check to see what the problem is.
The doctor will be able to help you to be able to swallow again and recommend some foods to eat in the meantime, such as eating softer foods.