What Is Dysphagia? What Causes Dysphagia?

Dysphagia is a medical term that is used to refer to difficulties with swallowing. The level of dysphagia varies. Some people have problems swallowing certain foods or liquids, while others are completely unable to swallow. It takes more time and effort to move food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. Difficulty swallowing may also be associated with pain. Persistent difficulty swallowing may indicate a serious medical condition requiring treatment.

The term “dysphagia” derives from the Greek root dys meaning “difficulty or disordered”, and phagia meaning “to eat”.

According to Medilexicon’s medical dictionary:

Dysphagia is “Difficulty in swallowing“.

Difficulty in swallowing can occur at any age, but is more common in older adults. The incidence of dysphagia is higher in the elderly, in patients who have had strokes, and in patients who are admitted to acute care hospitals or chronic care facilities. The causes of swallowing difficulties vary, and treatment depends on the cause. Dysphagia frequently arises as a complication of another health condition, such as a stroke, throat and mouth cancer or gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Read more

Sinus Infection Or Cold?

Have a cold that just won’t go away or is getting worse? Chances are your cold has developed into a sinus infection a common problem this time of year, says Alan Wild, M.D., assistant professor of otolaryngology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

“Most colds resolve without progressing to a sinus infection,” Wild said. “However, acute sinus infections those that last less than two weeks almost always begin as a cold.”

Telling the difference between the two illnesses can be difficult because they share many symptoms, such as headaches, congestion and discolored nasal drainage. However, if you experience a fever, persistent or worsening symptoms that last longer than seven days, thick nasal mucus or dental pain, you have most likely developed a sinus infection, Wild warns.

To keep a cold from turning into to a sinus infection, Wild recommends using saline nasal rinses such as a nettie pot or NeilMed Sinus Rinse™, as well as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Decongestants, such as Sudafed, Mucinex and Vick’s Vapor Rub, cool mist vaporizers or even sitting in a steamy shower also may help. Of course there’s no substitution for resting and staying well hydrated.

Antibiotics are effective only when the sinus infection is caused by a bacterial infection something that only can be determined by a physician. Wild recommends starting with over-the-counter treatments before talking to your doctor about antibiotics. Read more

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