What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is the medical term for symptoms related to difficulty swallowing, pain when swallowing and difficult passage of food and drink in the throat and esophagus.
Upper dysphagia is related to the mouth and pharynx, while lower dysphagia is related to the esophagus and stomach.
Dysphagia occurs in both children and adults with various diagnoses, e.g. Cerebral Palsy, sclerosis, brain damage, Parkinson's, Dementia and others. as well as as a late consequence of radiotherapy. In addition, dysphagia occurs in a large part of the elderly population.
A Danish study has found an incidence of dysphagia of 50% in elderly patients (Melgaard, D., 2018).
Why do you get dysphagia?
From the age of 50-80, you lose 50% of your muscle mass and collapse throughout the body, including around the neck and neck. This in itself can contribute to making the swallowing process more difficult (Hessov, I. & Jeppesen, PB, 2012).
In addition, any dental problems that challenge the ability to chew; perhaps the teeth have become too large after an accidental weight loss? Perhaps the fine motor skills are not as good as before, so the brushing is not as thorough and the dental status is thus worse?
Symptoms of dysphagia
Symptoms of dysphagia can be:
- The runny nose or cough during or just after a meal or drinking liquids
- Long time to sink
- Changed voice during and after meals and when taking liquids
- Rattling or labored breathing in connection with or after eating and drinking
- Pain when swallowing food/drink
- Fever often without the doctor can find an explanation
- Recurrent pneumonia
- Unwanted weight loss
Dysphagia can cause major complications such as malnutrition and/or dehydration as well as mal-swallowing and aspiration with Pneumonia (Kjærsgaard, A., 2020)
Citizens with dysphagia often have a reduced quality of life, and some are ashamed of it, which means that they avoid eating with others due to fear of coughing.
Important to detect dysphagia
If you suspect that you or one of your relatives has dysphagia, it is important that you contact your doctor or the care staff if they are associated. An occupational therapist can examine for dysphagia and draw attention to the consistency of food and drink for safe swallowing.
After this, it is a good idea to have a clinical dietician ensure that food and drink contain sufficient calories and proteins.
Nutrition and consistency
When the occupational therapist has examined for dysphagia, he/she makes a recommendation on the consistency of food and drink based on the levels below.
The possibilities of getting food in the consistency you need have fortunately improved a lot over the years and so-called gratin sandwiches can be ordered in several places.
(IDDSI 2019)
The lower the level you need in terms of consistency, the more difficult it will often be to cover your nutritional needs.
How can Adozan be used for dysphagia?
Adozan Kilo+, Protein+, Vital+, P-boost and Protein+Hot can be used to enrich the food and drink that is consumed, so that your needs are met.
Adozan ThiClear is an easily soluble tasteless thickener suitable for thickening hot, cold drinks and liquid dishes.
Adozan ThiClear is easy to use and does not thicken. Is amylase resistant and thus maintains the same consistency during swallowing.
Adozan ProSpuma is a protein-rich powder for the production of foam. Foam diet can be used in severe cases of dysphagia. The foam structure ensures a high aroma release of flavor and thus ensures an intense taste sensation. Adozan ProSpuma can be used in all liquids, cold or hot.
Sources:
Hessov, I. & Jeppesen, PB, 2012, Clinical Nutrition
Kjærsgaard, A., 2020, Face, mouth and throat, Munksgaard
Melgaard, D., 2018: The Prevalence of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Acute geriatrics
