The effects of the disease on the brain can cause weakness and coordination issues. A 2018 study estimated that the general prevalence of dysphagia in those living with MS was about 43% . If a person living with MS has trouble swallowing, they should talk with their doctor.

Dysphagia is defined as any difficulty in swallowing function. The dysphagia is estimated in one-third of the patients with MS. A recent systematic review with meta-analysis found about 43% prevalence of dysphagia in patients with MS.

Dysphagia can sometimes lead to further problems. One of the most common problems is coughing or choking, when food goes down the “wrong way” and blocks your airway. This can lead to chest infections, such as aspiration pneumonia, which require urgent medical treatment.

Aspiration pneumonia: MS-related swallowing difficulties or inability to clear mucus from your nose or throat may lead to aspiration pneumonia, which can occur when liquid, mucus, and/or food particles enter the lungs and they become infected.

Difficulty swallowing associated with GERD can be treated with prescription oral medications to reduce stomach acid. You might need to take these medications for a long time. Corticosteroids might be recommended for eosinophilic esophagitis. For esophageal spasm, smooth muscle relaxants might help.

Respiratory problems can occur in advanced multiple sclerosis (MS). Generally, mild dyspnea (shortness of breath) during strenuous activity is more common in MS than severe respiratory impairment or difficulty breathing while at rest.

In MS, the most common cause of respiratory problems is loss of muscle strength and endurance. Just as a person can experience muscle weakness in the arms or legs, weakness can occur in the ventilatory muscles of the chest and abdomen that are involved in breathing.

Causes of dysphagia a condition that affects the nervous system, such as a stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis or dementia. cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer. gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus.

Treatment for dysphagia includes:

1. Exercises for your swallowing muscles. If you have a problem with your brain, nerves, or muscles, you may need to do exercises to train your muscles to work together to help you swallow.
2. Changing the foods you eat.
3. Dilation.
4. Endoscopy.
5. Surgery.
6. Medicines.

Treating dysphagia Treatment usually depends on the cause and type of dysphagia. Many cases of dysphagia can be improved with careful management, but a cure isn’t always possible. Treatments for dysphagia include: speech and language therapy to help people recover their swallowing with special exercises and techniques.

Problems with swallowing (dysphagia) in people with MS result from lesions in the brainstem that cause loss of control over the muscles involved in swallowing which can slow swallowing and increase the risk of aspirating food or liquid into the lungs.

If you think you may have dysphagia , there are certain symptoms that may be present along with difficulty swallowing. They include: drooling. a hoarse voice. feeling that something is lodged in the throat. regurgitation. unexpected weight loss. heartburn.

Some of the best natural treatments for difficulty swallowing include acupuncture, diet changes, oral-motor exercises, postural adjustments, thickened liquids, and swallow maneuvers. If these therapies aren’t helping, a feeding tube may become the best course of action.

Difficulty swallowing. Difficulty swallowing is usually the result of damage to the esophagus, blockage of the esophagus, or poor function of the nerves and muscles that control swallowing.