Dysphagia

Patient Information Leaflet

What is dysphagia?

• Dysphagia is the medical term used to describe difficulties with eating, drinking, and swallowing.
• Dysphagia can cause food, drink, and medication to "go down the wrong way" and into the lungs, rather than into the stomach.
• This is called 'aspiration'.
• If food or drink gets into the lungs it can cause coughing or choking and may lead to a chest infection/pneumonia.
• This is called 'aspiration pneumonia' and can lead to serious medical complications, and in some cases, death.
• A Speech and Language Therapist will assess your swallow function (how you swallow food and drink) and give you suggestions that will help your swallowing.

What about medication?

• The way you take your medications may need to be changed if you are finding it difficult to swallow.
• Some medications can be crushed or given in liquid form, making them easier to swallow.
• Ask your GP or pharmacist before changing how you take your medications.

What about mouthcare?

• Brush your teeth, tongue, and gums at least twice a day, especially after meals.
• Swallowing saliva containing bacteria from the mouth can lead to infections.
• You are advised to use a low foaming toothpaste (e.g. Sensodyne or Biotene) as this does not create lots of saliva (spit) or leave the mouth dry.

General tips to help with eating and drinking

• Make sure you are sitting upright whenever eating or drinking.
• Sit upright for 20 minutes after you finish eating or drinking.
• Reduce distractions when eating or drinking.
• Avoid eating and drinking if you are breathless or drowsy.
• Eat and drink at a slow pace.

Things to look out for when eating and drinking

• Coughing, choking or throat clearing during or shortly after eating or drinking.
• A wet or 'gurgly' sounding voice during or shortly after eating or drinking.
• Breathlessness or fatigue during or after a meal.
• Increased drooling or saliva (spit).
• Increased effort when eating/drinking or holding food or fluid in the mouth.
• Food or drink remaining in the mouth after swallowing.
• Food sticking in the throat (or a feeling of a lump).
• Chest infections or aspiration pneumonia.

Contact your Doctor or Speech and Language Therapist if you notice any of the above.

• Speech & Language Therapy Team: 0207 288 5546