Dysphagia pishtevoda – Difficulty swallowing due to problems with the esophagus

Esophageal Dysphagia (Dysphagia, Esophageal; Difficulty Swallowing [Esophagus])

What is esophageal dysphagia?

Esophageal dysphagia means difficulty in swallowing. Esophageal dysphagia occurs, if the cause of problems with swallowing is a problem with the esophagus. Esophagus – muscular tube, through which food passes from the throat to the stomach.

Dysphagia pishtevoda – causes

By the occurrence of esophageal dysphagia can cause a number of diseases:

• Axalazija – It affects the muscles in the lower part of the esophagus;
• Scleroderma – causing thickening and tightening of tissue, joints and organs; can lead to problems with the muscles of the esophagus;
• Stricture of the esophagus – It causes a narrowing of the esophagus;
• Tumors of the esophagus;
• Infectious esophagitis;
• The burn of the esophagus;
• Foreign bodies in the esophagus;
• Eosinophilic esophagitis.

Risk factors for esophageal dysphagia

Factors, which can increase the risk of esophageal dysphagia include:

• Advanced age;
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
• Cancer;
• Radiation therapy;
• Diseases of the respiratory tract or cardiovascular disorders, such as stroke;
• Operation, eg, fundoplikaciâ;
• Premature birth;
• Taking certain medications, which may affect the functioning of the esophagus.

Dysphagia pishtevoda – symptoms

Symptoms may include esophageal dysphagia:

• Difficulty swallowing solids, fluids;
• The feeling of being stuck in the esophagus food;
• Pain when swallowing;
• Heartburn, belching;
• Coughing or choking while eating or drinking;
• Drooling;
• Breathlessness, hoarse voice;
• Weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration due to problems with food and fluid intake.

Diagnosis of esophageal dysphagia

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination.

To evaluate the swallowing function, It can be carried out the following studies:

• Testing swallowing function, to see, what happens when swallowing;
• Videorentgenoskopiya swallowing.

To inspect the throat can be used:

• Endoscopy;
• Radiopaque barium study – barium porridge.

It can be tested muscle strength of the esophagus. For these purposes is used esophageal motility study.

Dysphagia pishtevoda – treatment

Esophageal dysphagia Treatment depends on the cause of its occurrence and may include a:

• Procedures, such as:
  • Expansion of the esophagus – introduction into the esophagus of a tube unit, to expand the narrow part;
  • Botox injections into the muscles of the esophagus, to facilitate swallowing;
• Operation;
• Dietary changes – perhaps, We need to avoid the consumption of certain products, which cause problems with swallowing. You may need to eat only pureed. In severe cases, it may be necessary accommodation feeding tube, to allow the flow of nutrients into the body;
• Therapy to improve swallowing – Learning ways to prevent choking while eating;
• Medication.

Dysphagia pishtevoda – prevention

You can reduce the risk of esophageal dysphagia, starting at an early stage treatment of any disease associated with the esophagus, eg, Row.