Ask a doctor - What are some causes of dysphagia?

Q. What are some causes of dysphagia?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Dysphagia is a disorder that can be caused by various medical conditions, including neurological diseases, neuromuscular disorders, head and neck cancers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal motility disorders (such as scleroderma or Achalasia), post-surgical changes to the esophagus or throat, swallowing problems due to stroke or Alzheimer's disease and other diseases affecting the brain.

Neurological causes of dysphagia include damage to the nervous system resulting from a stroke or multiple sclerosis which can affect the nerves controlling the muscles used for swallowing. Neuromuscular diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and muscular dystrophy also cause dysphagia by weakening the muscles involved in swallowing.

Head and neck cancer patients may suffer from dysphagia due to swelling of tissues surrounding their throat after radiation therapy treatment. Surgery on structures in your mouth/throat area can have similar effects as well. GERD attack might cause narrowing of esophagus leading to difficulty while swallowing food; same way scleroderma which is an autoimmune disorder involving hardening of connective tissue present around digestive tract can lead you towards this problem. Medications that relax smooth muscle around oesophagus called Proton pump inhibitor & calcium channel blockers are known treatments for GERDs & Achlasias respectively along with surgery options available nowadays for both these problems in modern era`.

In recent years dementia has been linked with more cases of dysphagia than before because affected person loses his ability control his basic motor functions like tongue placement & suckling reflex preventing him from intake solid foods leading him straight towards this trouble . Lastly some injuries occurring at backside at neck region , hypothyroidism , head trauma , enlarged tonsils could be counted among common reason behind development this condition although there might be some rare scenarios also involved so better consult your doctor incase you find any significant signs pointing towards it .