Difficulty swallowing while eating due to dysphagia, what is the cause?

There are many types of dysphagia

Everyone can experience dysphagia, but this is more common in infants and the elderly. Some people just take longer to swallow and move food from the mouth to the esophagus and into the stomach. Others can't even swallow at all.

Dysphagia is divided into three types, namely oral dysphagia due to weak tongue muscles, pharyngeal dysphagia because the throat muscles are problematic so that they cannot push food into the stomach, and esophageal dysphagia due to a blockage or irritation of the esophagus.

Swallowing problems due to dysphagia are not the same as pain when swallowing (odynophagia). A person with dysphagia has difficulty swallowing food and feels as if the food is stuck in the throat. Meanwhile, people who experience odynophagia can still swallow food, it's just accompanied by pain.

What causes difficulty swallowing due to dysphagia?

Basically, difficulty swallowing due to dysphagia is nothing to worry about - if only experienced once or twice. Because usually, this happens when you eat too fast or don't chew your food properly.

However, if you experience it for days and it doesn't heal, you should immediately consult a doctor. The reason is, this condition can indicate a serious medical problem that requires further treatment.

The cause of difficulty swallowing is distinguished by the type of dysfunction. Let's peel them one by one.

1.Oropharyngeal (oral and pharyngeal) dysphagia

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a combination of oral dysphagia and pharyngeal dysphagia. A person who has this type of dysphagia often experiences choking, vomiting, or coughing when trying to swallow. If not treated promptly, this can increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia when fluids or pieces of food get into the lungs.

Causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia include neurological disorders caused by multiple sclerosis, ALS, muscle weakness, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. In addition, some cancers and their treatments, such as esophageal cancer and radiation therapy, can make swallowing difficult.

2. Esophageal dysphagia

Esophageal dysphagia makes you feel like food is stuck in your throat or chest when you swallow. This condition can be caused by:

Achalasia disease, that is a disorder that makes it difficult for food and drink to move from mouth to stomach. This occurs because the sphincter or valve that is located between the esophagus and stomach does not open after the food has been swallowed.
Esophageal spasm is a condition when the esophageal muscle contractions run abnormally and sometimes too hard. As a result, food cannot enter the stomach and instead gets trapped in the esophageal tract.
Esophageal stricture is a condition of narrowing of the esophagus due to stomach acid reflux (GERD). As a result, food gets trapped in the esophagus and triggers a hot sensation when swallowing.
Tumor or scar tissue that often caused by stomach acid reflux (GERD).
Gastric acid reflux (GERD). Gastric acid that rises into the esophagus can lead to scarring and narrowing of the lower esophagus.
Eosinophilic esophagitis, which is a condition caused by the overgrowth of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the esophagus. This high number of white blood cells can attack the digestive system, causing vomiting and difficulty swallowing.
Radiation therapy. The effects of exposure to light or radiation while undergoing cancer treatment can lead to scarring and inflammation of the esophagus. That is why, cancer sufferers often experience swallowing problems.

How to prevent?

Swallowing problems due to dysphagia generally cannot be prevented. However, you can avoid various risk factors. One of them is by chewing the food slowly until it's really soft.

In addition, make sure you have regular health checks to prevent disease progression as early as possible. If you experience trouble swallowing that doesn't go away, immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause and the right treatment for you.