Rs Neurology

Dysphagia is a medical term used to describe difficulty with swallowing. In certain cases, people with dysphagia may also experience pain when swallowing or find it impossible to swallow any food or liquid at all.

Dysphagia occurs when there is a problem with the nerves or muscles involved in the swallowing process, and is often a result of other underlying medical conditions.

Dysphagia may not seem that serious at first. However, dysphagia may cause you to choke on your food and put you off from eating or drinking, potentially leading to dehydration and malnutrition.

Some medical conditions which may lead to dysphagia includes:

Stroke. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either because the arteries leading to your brain are blocked or burst. As a result, oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, causing brain damage as cells in part of your brain die. When this happens, bodily functions controlled by damaged parts of your brain are lost.

Brain tumour. Brain tumours are masses of abnormal cells that grow within the skull.

Motor neuron disease (MND). MND refers to a group of neurodegenerative diseases that deteriorate your body’s motor neurons, causing the nerves in your spine and brain to gradually lose function over time. Motor neurones are nerve cells that transmit electrical signals, also known as nerve impulses, from your spinal cord to your muscles, enabling you to move.

Myopathy. Myopathy is a general term that refers to diseases that affect muscles in the body, Neuromuscular disorders – weakness of neuromuscular junction.

If you think that you may be experiencing dysphagia, consult a doctor and seek medical attention as soon as possible.