Dysphagia: learn how to recognize symptoms and prevent consequences | Special Publicity – São José Hospital

Difficulty swallowing food, liquids, and even saliva through any stage between the mouth and stomach is called dysphagia. It is characterized by specific signs and symptoms and can be congenital or acquired. Most of the time, it causes severe damage to the nutritional, pulmonary and even social aspects of the affected individual. For this reason, March 20 is remembered throughout the country, and National Dysphagia Day. To remember the importance of history, São José de Criciúma Hospital has implemented orientation procedures for professionals to show the importance of history.

This special week is used to make other professionals who work in treating patients with dysphagia aware of the importance of assessing and treating this change. Here at the hospital, awareness actions will be carried out about the most common symptoms, how to identify a potential patient with dysphagia and what the main risk factors are. In addition, we want to advise patients on the correct handling of the diet, to respect the consistency recommended by the speech therapist, and to explain the risks and harms that they can bring to the patient, ”explains HSJosé speech therapist Mariana Cardoso-Lommertz .

According to the specialist, dysphagia can lead to complications that involve affecting the nutritional status, which it causes Reduce consumption of liquid and solid foods. “This reduction occurs as a way to avoid discomfort when eating. In addition, liquid and solid foods can be easily inhaled, causing aspiration pneumonia. He explains that as a result of insufficient nutrition, there is malnutrition and dehydration, which worsens the clinical picture and generates a constant cycle.” .

According to the expert, among The main symptoms of dysphagia difficulty chewing and/or swallowing food and liquids; you need to swallow several times the portion of food and liquid placed in the mouth, or even the saliva itself; Pain when swallowing, a feeling of food stuck in the throat. coughing or persistent throat clearing while feeding; Change in voice after swallowing. a change in skin color during or after feeding (paleness/cyanosis or purple skin); Shortness of breath Weight loss or lack of appetite. Frequent hospitalizations for pneumonia or respiratory infections and food leftovers in the mouth after swallowing.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is more common in the elderly, either because it is a condition of the aging process itself, prephagia, or because it is a very common symptom in neuromuscular and/or neurodegenerative diseases, such as: Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and stroke. cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.In addition to neurological conditions, dysphagia can also occur in patients with tumors or trauma to the mouth and throat.

According to a speech therapist, treatment for dysphagia ranges from exercise to Strengthen the muscles of the mouth and face, changes in consistency, volume, and temperature, among others. “According to the diagnosis and assessment of speech and language pathology, we refer them to other specialists who can work together in treatment, such as a neurologist, an otolaryngologist, a physiotherapist, a nutritionist, among others,” concludes Mariana.