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Gastro Health & Nutrition
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Swallowing Disorders

Swallowing is usually an effortless action that people perform without thinking about it. However, when someone has a swallowing disorder, they may struggle to get food down. Factors such as age, genetics, and underlying physical conditions like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy can make people more susceptible to swallowing disorders.
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Swallowing Disorders Treatment in Cypress, Texas!!

What Is A Swallowing Disorder?

Difficulty swallowing may occasionally be experienced by most people. However, when it occurs regularly, a swallowing disorder could be the cause.

A swallowing disorder can occur during one of three phases. The first is the oral phase, which involves chewing food and moving it into the throat. In the pharyngeal phase, swallowing begins, and the airway must be closed off to prevent food from entering it. During the esophageal phase, the esophagus opens and closes while squeezing food down into the stomach. Various conditions can result in swallowing difficulties, so thorough testing and examination are necessary to determine the exact cause.

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What Are the Typical Symptoms?

You may have a swallowing disorder if:

  • You regularly experience coughing fits while eating (or immediately afterward)
  • Food seems to get caught in your mouth or throat
  • It becomes necessary to chew your food into tiny bites before swallowing
  • You notice a gurgling sound while eating or drinking
Doctor examining patient's abdomen on medical chair.

How Are Swallowing Disorders Treated?

The exact treatment for a swallowing disorder will vary based on the specific condition. Medication, surgery, and changes in diet are often recommended for those with a swallowing disorder. To avoid food getting caught in your throat, eat slowly, take smaller bites, and chew your food thoroughly. Drinking plenty of fluids will help keep your throat and esophagus well-hydrated, facilitating the swallowing process.

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About Our Comprehensive Digestive Health Care

Our expert team helps people identify, treat, and manage their digestive irregularities. Allowing them to have incredible experiences in their lives that otherwise might not have been possible. We provide a comfortable environment in which we educate our patients to fully understand what is affecting their body and how it is best treated. Nuestro equipo es bilingüe.

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  • Digestive Health

  • IBS, Dyspepsia

  • Liver Disease

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a swallowing disorder (dysphagia)?
A swallowing disorder, medically known as dysphagia, is a condition where it takes more time and physical effort to move food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach. While occasional difficulty swallowing can happen to anyone—such as when eating too fast or not chewing properly—persistent dysphagia indicates an underlying medical issue that requires professional evaluation.
Symptoms can vary depending on where the problem occurs, but common signs include a sensation of food getting stuck in your throat or chest, pain while swallowing (odynophagia), frequent choking or coughing during meals, regurgitation of food or stomach acid, persistent drooling, chronic heartburn, and unexplained weight loss due to an inability to eat properly.
Swallowing is a complex process, and disorders can stem from a variety of structural or nerve-related issues. Common causes include chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal strictures (a narrowing of the esophagus), neurological conditions (such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke), esophageal muscle spasms, and eosinophilic esophagitis (an allergic inflammation of the esophagus).
To pinpoint the exact location and cause of your swallowing difficulty, our gastroenterologists utilize advanced diagnostic testing. This typically involves an upper endoscopy to visually inspect the lining of your esophagus, a barium swallow X-ray to track how liquid moves through your digestive tract, or esophageal manometry to accurately measure the strength and coordination of your esophageal muscle contractions.
Treatment is tailored entirely to the root cause of your condition. Options may include prescribing daily acid-reducing medications for GERD-related damage, performing an endoscopic esophageal dilation to carefully stretch and widen a narrowed esophagus, recommending specific dietary modifications, or referring you to a speech-language pathologist for specialized swallowing therapy to retrain your muscles.