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What Causes Difficulty In Swallowing?
For the last couple of months now, I have been having trouble swallowing just about everything, from food and drinks to even saliva. I have some sinus problems, which causes an almost constant slight post nasal drip, and also seem to produce a lot of mucus. When I try to swallow the mucus, it feels like it gets stuck in the back of my throat and I need to swallow a few additional times to get it down. I have the same problem with food. I also noticed that I start coughing after attempting to swallow things. To even attempt to eat food I need to have a bottle of water on hand to help it down, and I need to force the food down sometimes. I noticed that it is easier for me to swallow things in the morning, right when I wake up and it gets progressively worse throughout the day. What could this be please help??
Tue, 25 Aug 2020
Hello,
Difficulty in swallowing can be caused due to acid reflux, sinus infection (causes mucus and fluid to back up in the throat), infectious mononucleosis, thyroid nodule, goiter, etc. You are suggested to visit an ENT, get clinically examined. Get X-Ray PNS, modified barium swallow study and endoscopic assessment done to detect the pathology causing you discomfort. Since you are having difficulty in swallowing you should take food that is soft and of liquid texture like porridge, oats, soups, etc. Stay well hydrated.
Get connected to a Physiotherapist or a Speech therapist to help you do exercises that will improve the muscle movement and make swallowing easier. You can take vitamin E rich food or Evion - 400, one caps daily for a month for better lubrication. Steam inhalation may help. Since you have history of sinus problem, you are suggested to get it treated at the earliest. If there is infection, you need a course of oral antibiotics / antivirals. Neglect may lead to complications (RTI or pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, etc).
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician
Difficulty in swallowing can be caused due to acid reflux, sinus infection (causes mucus and fluid to back up in the throat), infectious mononucleosis, thyroid nodule, goiter, etc. You are suggested to visit an ENT, get clinically examined. Get X-Ray PNS, modified barium swallow study and endoscopic assessment done to detect the pathology causing you discomfort. Since you are having difficulty in swallowing you should take food that is soft and of liquid texture like porridge, oats, soups, etc. Stay well hydrated.
Get connected to a Physiotherapist or a Speech therapist to help you do exercises that will improve the muscle movement and make swallowing easier. You can take vitamin E rich food or Evion - 400, one caps daily for a month for better lubrication. Steam inhalation may help. Since you have history of sinus problem, you are suggested to get it treated at the earliest. If there is infection, you need a course of oral antibiotics / antivirals. Neglect may lead to complications (RTI or pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, etc).
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician
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