A swallowing difficulty can inhibit your ability to eat and drink normally, and depending on the severity of the condition, your ability to live a normal daily life. To cope with a swallowing difficulty and make eating and drinking easier, you might want to start by trying the following:
- If your swallowing difficulty stems from GERD (acid reflux), use antacids to manage your symptoms. You might also want to avoid eating three hours before going to bed, propping up the head of your bed, and eating smaller meals throughout the day.
- Swallowing problems can be caused by the way you eat and drink. Try chewing thoroughly, taking smaller bites, and eating slowly to make eating easier.
- If your swallowing problems were caused by a nervous system problem, like a stroke, a speech or occupational therapist can help you relearn how to swallow. A specialist can also teach you techniques for learning how to eat amidst swallowing problems.
Since swallowing problems are often an inconvenient problem, it can be difficult to know when to seek professional help. You should plan on contacting your doctor or health care provider if your swallowing difficulty doesn’t clear up quickly; you choke, cough, or have issues breathing when you try to eat; or if your troubles eating result in serious weight loss.
Here at TwinCity Medical Mobile, we diagnose swallowing issues through Modified Barium Swallow tests. If you would like to know more about our processes or unique services, please reach out to us today.