Dysphagia Symptoms and When to Seek Medical Attention

A certified hand therapist, Gregory F. Caffiero leads Maui Hand Therapy, LLC. Gregory Caffiero draws on over a decade of experience in rehabilitation of the upper extremities. As an occupational therapist, he is also certified in dysphagia, which makes him qualified to evaluate and provide intervention in the eating process.

Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing, which occurs when extra time and effort is required by a person to move liquid or solid food from their mouth to their stomach. Occasional difficulty swallowing, which sometimes happens when a person eats too fast or doesn’t chew their food sufficiently, is otherwise normal and does not translate to a health problem. If this occurs frequently, however, a medical examination may be recommended. Dysphagia sometimes causes pain while swallowing (odynophagia), and for some people, swallowing may become impossible.

Although it is more prevalent among older adults, dysphagia can occur at any age. Aside from the aforementioned symptoms, dysphagia may also present with drooling, frequent heartburn, gagging, or coughing (when swallowing), and hoarseness, as well as the sensation of food getting stuck in the throat or chest.

Medical attention should be sought if these symptoms occur frequently or are accompanied by regurgitation, vomiting, or weight loss. Emergency care is crucial if the dysphagia obstructs breathing or leads to food getting stuck in the throat or chest.