Difficulty Swallowing

Difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia, occurs when an individual requires more time or more work to pass solid foods or liquids from the mouth to the stomach.

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For some with dysphagia, swallowing can be painful or even impossible. For most people, an occasional difficulty swallowing or a difficulty swallowing certain foods is not a sign of concern. However, those experiencing persistent difficulty or pain should seek treatment. Texas ENT Specialists can help evaluate you if you are having difficulty swallowing, and we will provide therapy to help make swallowing more manageable and less painful.

Dysphagia Treatment Options

At Texas ENT Specialists, we offer a customized swallowing therapy treatment that targets your specific difficulties. Your swallowing therapy will depend on the cause of the issue and at what point in the swallowing cycle your difficulty occurs.

If underlying conditions are found, medications may be used. Diet and food modifications, as well as swallowing therapy, may also be necessary to limit your difficulty swallowing.

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About Dysphagia

Dysphagia can develop for a number of reasons, and the difficulty can occur at one or more points during the swallowing process.

For example, some patients may have difficulty with chewing or sucking foods and moving them to the throat. Others may have difficulty moving food down the throat or from the throat to the esophagus to the stomach. In some cases, there is an underlying condition that is causing dysphagia, but that is not always the case.

It is very important to seek medical treatment for this condition, as it can lead to weight loss, regurgitation or vomiting, or breathing obstructions.

Dysphagia Symptoms

Pain when swallowing
Inability to swallow
Coughing or gagging when swallowing
Drooling
Regurgitation
Food or acid reflux in the throat
Heartburn
The sensation of food being stuck
Unexplained weight loss

About Texas ENT Specialists

Texas ENT Specialists has been a top ENT provider in the Houston area since 1997. We help patients understand their condition and provide a treatment plan to help them find long-term relief.

Personalized Treatment

We provide personalized treatment designed to address your condition and the ways it’s impacting your life.

Top-Rated Physician Network

Each of our locations is staffed with a team of providers who have years of experience treating ENT conditions.

Centers of Excellence

We’ve designed a seamless patient experience that begins the moment you walk through our doors.

Continuity of Care

Our network of providers works together to offer you well-rounded care that addresses each of your concerns.

Difficulty Swallowing FAQ's

Who Can Dysphagia Affect?

Dysphagia can affect a wide variety of patients, though older patients are at a higher risk for developing a swallowing condition. Those with neurological disorders, nerve disorders, or cancer often have weaker throat muscles, making swallowing difficulty more likely. Patients with esophageal conditions such as GERD or esophageal weaknesses are also more likely to experience difficulty swallowing.

Is there anything I can do to prevent a swallowing condition?

Dysphagia cannot be prevented. However, you can take steps to decrease your risk of experiencing difficulty swallowing such as taking smaller bites of food and chewing it thoroughly before swallowing. Treating underlying medical conditions as well as early detection can also help.

Is swallowing difficulty cause for alarm?

It can be. Because food is how we are able to take in nutrients, swallowing difficulty can make it hard to achieve proper nutrition and hydration. In addition, if food is stuck in the throat, it can lead to choking, which can be quite serious and even fatal.