controls movement of the food and liquid from the back of the mouth through the throat, protecting the airway directed to the esophagus. The esophageal phase involves moving the food or liquid through the esophagus( the food tube) to the stomach. There should be no contamination of the airway or the back of the nose, and nothing should be left behind in the mouth or throat. The phases of swallowing are under voluntary and involuntary control. Therefore, certain aspects of the swallowing mechanism can be modified more than others.
How do I know if there is a problem with swallowing?
There are several warning signs of potential problems with swallowing, including:
• Drooling and difficulty managing secretions
• Food collecting in the mouth
• Apparent increased effort with swallowing
• A“ wet” voice quality
• Abnormal posture
• New onset trouble swallowing medications
• Increased length of mealtime
• Low-grade fever
• Chest congestion
• Trouble talking
• Coughing and choking with a red face
• Coughing more during mealtimes than at other times of the day
• Unintentional weight loss
• Need for the Heimlich maneuver
• Need for diet modifications
• Pneumonia
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Some patients with PSP may not recognize that they have an eating or swallowing problem, whereas people with CBD and MSA may be more aware. Coughing is a normal response. Silent aspiration occurs when the individual does not cough when food, liquids, or saliva go down the wrong way toward the lungs. If any of these signs occur, you should notify your physician. A referral should be made to a speech pathologist who specializes in swallowing problems, preferably one who is familiar with PSP, CBD, MSA, or related movement disorders.
What is aspiration pneumonia?
Aspiration pneumonia is an infection that forms in the lungs following the aspiration of food, liquid, saliva, or stomach contents. This can happen when a person develops problems with swallowing. Clearly, aspiration in and of itself can place an individual at risk for developing aspiration pneumonia. However, studies have shown that there are other contributing factors that can increase the risk for developing aspiration pneumonia. These include poor oral hygiene, immobility, and dependence on others for feeding assistance. Additionally, the presence of a feeding tube does not eliminate the potential for aspiration pneumonia. In fact, it may potentially increase the risk. The development of aspiration pneumonia is a complicated process with multiple factors.