GERD and Swallowing Problems
Dysphagia is the medical term that describes difficulty with swallowing. When we eat and drink, food passes from our mouth through the esophagus and into our stomach. Layers of muscles in the esophagus contract to push food along its path to the stomach. The lining of the esophagus produces mucus which helps foods to pass through the esophagus easily. There is a sphincter muscle between the esophagus and the stomach which functions like a valve and releases food into the stomach while keeping it from backing up into the esophagus. Dysphagia may occur from because of acid reflux, GERD, non-cancerous growths in the esophagus or Achalasia which is a condition that affects the esophageal nerves and muscles. Some stroke patients, those with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and other motor neuron diseases may also experience this condition.
Difficulty swallowing can be mild discomfort in getting food down and relatively little or no issue when drinking liquids. More severe cases can make the passing of food and liquids so difficult that it results in vomiting. Some patients also experience choking, pain and coughing with dysphagia. In some rare cases, dysphagia may be an indication of cancer, which must be ruled out.
Common Symptoms of Swallowing Issues:
- Trouble swallowing.
- Choking when trying to swallow.
- Coughing when trying to swallow.
- Regurgitating when trying to swallow.
Alternative Treatment for Swallowing issues:
Sunridge Medical offers alternative treatment of dysphagia and complimentary treatment for swallowing problems. The first course is to discover the cause of the dysphagia which begins with natural medicine tests. Then we create a custom designed treatment plan to treat the whole body and not just the symptoms of dysphagia.
For answers to your questions or to make an appointment, call us toll-free at 855-747-6832 to speak with a Patient Care Team. Let us help you get your life back.
