One kind of swallowing issue is dysphagia. Experiencing food getting stuck in the throat is a common symptom of dysphagia that we see frequently at Hearing Care 360.
For some, the feeling of food "sticking" could be constant, while for others, it might change from day to day. In order to alleviate these symptoms, it is crucial to identify their cause.
Dysmotility of the oesophagus is prevalent in the elderly. There is a decline in the efficiency of the digestive system's muscles and/or nerves. As a result, the oesophagus (the food pipe/gullet) takes longer to process solid foods and liquids.
A "referred sensation" occurs when the spot where food gets stuck feels higher in the throat than it actually does.
Osteophytes in the cervical spine develop when the vertebrae shift forward just enough to encroach on the throat. Because of these, food may have difficulty going down the throat.
A narrowing of the oesophagus (the food pipe/gullet) limits the kinds of food that can flow through it readily; this condition is known as oesophageal stricture. A shift to softer, better-lubricated meals may have already occurred to you.
When food gets stuck in the throat due to a malfunction in the cricopharyngeal muscles, it means that food is unable to pass down the food pipe or gullet into the oesophagus. A greater need to drink to help wash things away and an increase in the amount of solid or sticky foods becoming stuck are symptoms you may be experiencing.
In cases where a physical anomaly in the throat is not present, there are numerous additional circumstances that might lead to the sensation of food "sticking":
Most cases of cervical spondylitis, characterized by stiffness and clicking in the neck, occur in middle age and later in life. These could alter the way you feel in your throat and give you the impression that something is there.
Anxiety and stress can tighten the muscles of the throat, making it feel like something is stuck or irritating the throat. A sore throat, both at rest and while swallowing, is a common symptom of tight muscles, which are painful to the touch. The accumulation of small "hassles" or a single "big" life event could be to blame for the tension and worry.
When we're hypersensitive, we pick up on tiny changes in our environment that we typically would ignore. When we let our minds take over mundane, habitual processes like swallowing, we could start to pay attention to things like saliva that we normally would have disregarded.
Infections or injuries to the airways or throat can cause heightened sensitivity to sensations and movements in the throat.
The speech and language therapy team at Hearing Care 360 administers treatment for these symptoms.
The team at Hearing Care 360 will inquire about your medical history and the digestive difficulties you have been experiencing during the evaluation. Potential components of assessment may comprise:
In the event that you have specific dietary needs or experience difficulty with a particular food, it may be advantageous to bring said food to your evaluation in order to facilitate a more thorough investigation.
Our objective is to assist you in attaining optimal functionality so that you can engage in routine activities to the fullest extent of your capability. Possible treatments may consist of some or all of the subsequent:
