A patient recently told me they’ve been having some problems swallowing lately. What can cause this? Swallowing is a pretty complex body function. It starts in the oral phase, when food is moistened ...

Dear Doctors: A good friend has Parkinson’s disease. She’s struggling, so I don’t ask too many questions. She was drinking water, started to choke and her husband mixed something into her glass that ...

Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing usually indicates some disorder of the esophagus. An accurate, detailed history can suggest the cause of dysphagia and can enable the physician to define the cause ...

Many conditions can cause swallowing issues, known as dysphagia. These include neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. They also include brain injuries, ...

Dysphagia is, more simply, a medical term for “difficulty swallowing.” It can occur when the muscles of the esophagus are weakened, too loose, too tight, or one’s diaphragm is atrophied. It can also ...

For the more than 10 million American adults who have trouble swallowing, the average 28,000-product supermarket might as well be a barren wasteland. The typical store stocks just three product lines ...

People often assume swallowing is automatic and infallible, but I’ve learned it isn’t. When my daughter was two months old, she caught RSV and stopped gaining weight. When she tried to feed, she ...

Every year, more than 795,000 Americans have a stroke—and more than half of survivors develop swallowing difficulties. Left untreated, this serious medical condition called dysphagia can cause ...

Difficulty swallowing is a common problem in older adults. Nerve or muscle problems are often the cause, but the condition can also stem from various health conditions. It can significantly affect a ...

You can practice progressive muscle relaxation to relieve throat tension and make swallowing easier. Try diaphragmatic breathing to relax your throat muscles and ease swallowing difficulties.