How to Treat Swallowing Problems

How to Treat Swallowing Problems

Your body is composed of many systems that are working together. Since these systems are all encased in your body, if one system malfunctions, the other systems will also be affected.

Diagnosing Swallowing Problems

If you are continually experiencing swallowing problems, you need to determine the root cause. The right person to help you verify what really causes your condition is an ENT doctor. He has the education and training to properly diagnose and recommend the right treatment for all kinds of swallowing problems.

One of the most common causes of such problems is the malfunctioning of your larynx. The larynx is the instrument that enables us to speak, sing, whisper and shout. It is made up of cartilage that encases your vocal chords. The muscles inside your larynx are responsible for adjusting the position, tension and shape of your vocal cords, enabling you to produce all kinds of sounds.

Your larynx is located at the connection between your mouth and trachea. It is covered by a flap-like membrane which functions as a gate or door to prevent saliva and food from entering the larynx while you are swallowing.

The Laryngitis Problem

When your voice box or larynx is inflamed, you have laryngitis. If you have this condition, you will lose your voice, or at best, it will become hoarse. And because your throat will also be in pain, you will have difficulty in swallowing your food, and drinking any kind of liquid.

Causes of Laryngitis

There are many reasons for the inflammation of the larynx.

• Overuse of your voice box
• GERD or Gastroesopahgeal reflux disease which is the reflux of the acid and digestive juices from your stomach.
• Constant irritation of the vocal cords – this can cause polyps to form on your vocal cords, affecting their ability to vibrate.
• Infection of the vocal cords
• Constant alcohol intake, smoking, excessive coughing, exposure to second hand smoke, and exposure to polluted air.
• Stroke that affects the vocal cords which results in vocal cord paralysis and difficulty in swallowing

Symptoms of Laryngitis

Watch out for the following signs. They usually indicate if you have a problem with your larynx.

• Hoarse voice or loss of voice
• Throat pain
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Pain when swallowing, difficulty in swallowing
• Fever
• Runny nose
• Feeling of fullness in the neck and throat

Common Treatments for Laryngitis

Your treatment will depend on the severity of your condition and the cause of the inflammation. Your ENT doctor will be the right person to determine the appropriate ENT services and treatment.

• Administration of Dexamethasone dose, orally or by intramascular injection
• Steroids for a limited period, if the condition is severe, to reduce the inflammation.
• Drinking of copious amounts of liquid, breathing of humidified air, and taking pain relievers.

Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
https://www.hkentspecialist.hk