Have you experienced a burning sensation in your chest causing difficulty having meals? What you might be experiencing is a combination of heartburn and dysphagia.
What is dysphagia and heartburn?
Dysphagia is a medical term that refers to difficulty in swallowing, which can be caused due to various factors like:
– Neurological conditions
– Structural deficits
– Head and Neck Cancer
Symptoms of dysphagia:
– Pain while swallowing
– Difficulty to have meals (eating and/or drinking)
– Coughing or choking during meals
– Wet sound after a meal (Hoarseness of sound)
– Feeling of food being stuck in throat
– Regurgitation
Heart burn is referred to the burning sensation in the chest caused due to backflow of acid in the stomach to the esophagus. This condition is also referred to as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a prevalent worldwide condition with an alarming increase of incidence among young adults.
Symptoms of Heartburn:
– Burning sensation in the chest
– Sour or acid taste in the back of the mouth
– Burning sensation that worsens in supine position
While these two symptoms seem distinct, they are often deeply interconnected.
The connection: Why do they occur together
Heartburn and dysphagia are caught in a vicious cycle; one can exacerbate the other, truly compromising one’s quality of life. Here’s a closer to look to understand the symptoms and the interconnection better. Despite being separate symptoms, dysphagia and heartburn are commonly associated with a single underlying cause: a malfunctioning Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). LES is a ring of muscles at the bottom of the esophagus that acts as a one-way valve. Malfunction of this valve can lead to a chain of events of both symptoms.
The burning sensation known as heartburn is directly caused by a weak LES that permits stomach acid to reflux up into the esophagus. This is GERD’s main and most prevalent symptom. The painful sensation in your chest is caused by the esophageal lining becoming irritated by the acid’s frequent backwash.
Dysphagia can also result from a malfunctioning LES in two different ways. First, you may feel as though something is stuck in your stomach because a weak LES is unable to properly coordinate its function to push food down into the stomach. Second, over time, the esophagus may sustain damage from the chronic acid reflux itself. The esophagus may physically narrow because of scar tissue formation and inflammation (esophagitis) brought on by this damage. Swallowing difficulties are a direct and chronic result of this physical narrowing.
Essentially, a single LES problem can have two effects: it can irritate heartburn in the short term and, in the long run, it may cause dysphagia to physically block.
Management of symptoms and Role of Speech Language Pathologist
Although dietary and lifestyle changes are important for controlling dysphagia and heartburn symptoms, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is essential, particularly when dysphagia is the main issue.
Bridges speech center helps you in assessing swallowing difficulties, designing personalized therapy plans, and providing strategies to improve safe swallowing and overall quality of life. Bridges Speech Center helps you in assessing swallowing difficulties, creating personalized therapy plans, and supporting recovery through expert speech therapy Dubai.
The assessment and management of swallowing disorders is the area of expertise for an SLP. Their job is to address the unique swallow mechanics by offering focused, clinical interventions that go beyond general lifestyle recommendations. We provide specialized speech and language therapy in Dubai to help individuals overcome communication challenges and swallowing difficulties with personalized care and expert guidance.
Management techniques used by the Speech Language Pathologist may include:
Clinical Swallowing Evaluation: To determine the type and severity of the dysphagia, an SLP will perform a comprehensive evaluation. The patient’s ability to safely handle various food and liquid consistencies will be evaluated.
- Dietary and Positional Modifications: An SLP collaborates with the patient’s family to suggest safe food and drink textures.
- Changing Food Consistency: To lower the risk of aspiration (food or liquid getting into the airway), softer foods or thickened liquids are advised.
- Positional Changes: Offering guidance on head and neck positions to promote a safer swallow during meals.
Swallowing Therapy:
An SLP will teach the patient specific exercises and techniques to enhance the range of motion, strength, and coordination of the muscles involved in swallowing based on their evaluation which will aid in safe swallowing during meals.
A swallowing technique called the Mendelsohn Maneuver entails voluntarily prolonging the hyolaryngeal elevation at the swallow’s peak. By doing this, the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opens wider, making it easier for the bolus (food or liquid) to travel through the pharynx and into the esophagus. It can be performed as a rehabilitative exercise to strengthen the swallowing muscles or as a compensatory technique to make swallowing easier during a meal.
Effortful Swallow: A technique for boosting swallowing muscle force.
Shaker Exercise: A technique to improve the opening of the upper esophageal sphincter and strengthen the muscles in the neck.
Patient and Family Education
: An SLP instructs patients and their families on safe eating procedures, the anatomy of the swallow, and how to spot symptoms of swallowing difficulties. Patients and their families can safely and successfully manage the illness on their own with the help of an SLP.
- Avoid Trigger Foods: Recognize and limit foods like alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, fatty foods, and citrus fruits that can aggravate heartburn.
- Eat Small, Regular Meals: Eating large meals can strain the stomach and increase the risk of reflux. Throughout the day, choose to eat smaller, more frequent meals.
- Maintain Hydration: Water helps clear the esophagus and keep food from becoming lodged in it.
- Elevate Your Head While You Sleep: You can help stop stomach acid from returning to your esophagus while you sleep by raising the head of your bed by 6 to 8 inches.
- Avoid Lying Down After Eating: Avoid lying down for at least two to three hours after eating.
- Keep Your Weight in Check: Carrying too much weight can strain the abdomen and aggravate reflux.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking causes the LES to weaken and increases the production of stomach acid.
When to Consult a Physician
Although mild dysphagia and occasional heartburn can frequently be controlled with dietary and lifestyle modifications, it’s imperative to get medical help if:
– You have severe or ongoing trouble swallowing.
– You may experience vomiting, weight loss, or chest pain in addition to your symptoms.
– Over-the-counter drugs aren’t helping.
A physician can correctly identify the root cause of your symptoms and suggest the best course of action.
Although heartburn and dysphagia are frequently linked, managing them effectively begins with an understanding of their relationship. You can manage these symptoms and enhance your quality of life by combining dietary adjustments, lifestyle adjustments, and, if required, medical treatments. Keep in mind that for an accurate diagnosis and tailored guidance, you should always speak with a healthcare provider.
