When the esophagus stops working properly, people develop a condition known as dysphagia, or impaired swallowing. It is not a pleasant experience as it interferes with the person's ability to maintain a healthy diet. It sometimes causes pain as well. Doctors use several methods of swallow study for dysphagia in order to diagnose and treat this condition.
Swallowing is done by the tongue's action pushing the food into the throat. From there, the esophagus massages the food along its length through peristalsis, or the rhythmic contractions of the muscles in its walls. The process ends when the ingested matter is propelled into the stomach through the gastric sphincter.
There are some reasons why this process might be difficult or impossible. The esophageal muscles may be impaired in some way, such as by being too weak to move anything or because they are otherwise injured.
Sometimes, the peristalsis starts to be irregular. These diffuse spasms are very strong and come in quick succession, in the involuntary muscles of the esophagus. This is similar to cardiac arrhythmia in that it is not like the usual predictable rhythm in the muscular contractions.
Another common problem is a blockage in the gullet. Tumors are one reason why this happens, and large pieces of food are another. Any foreign object can potentially have this outcome.
Like all muscular activity in the body, the esophagus is controlled by the nervous system. Illnesses of the nerves, such as polio or muscular dystrophy, can inhibit swallowing, as can nerve lesions such as those resulting from mechanical trauma or strokes.
Monitoring the swallowing action is necessary in diagnosing the problem. The person is asked to eat or drink something that has been infused with barium, which is the contrast material. The X-ray cannot show muscle tissue but in the presence of barium it is able to, because the metal reflects the X-rays. Their esophagus is then checked to see how it functions as it processes the ingested material. This is known as a dynamic swallowing exercise.
Secondly, a dynamic swallowing exercise is a live depiction of patient gullet action. The latter swallows barium food or liquid and is then monitored as it passes through to their stomach. The working of their food canal is assessed to see if it is healthy.
Manometry is a test of the strength of the muscles in the esophagus. A tube is inserted into the patient's mouth and it then applies pressure to the muscular walls of the food passage. The reaction of the muscles can be measured to determine if they are too weak or not functioning properly.
Testing the strength of those muscles is done during a manometry exam. This also involves inserting a tube into the mouth, but this time the tube exerts pressure on the walls of the food canal to ascertain their power and coordination.
All of these methods are relatively easy to endure. Dysphagia is not usually associated with younger people, and may occur from time to time on a once-off basis. But where it persists, it should be seen to.
Swallowing is done by the tongue's action pushing the food into the throat. From there, the esophagus massages the food along its length through peristalsis, or the rhythmic contractions of the muscles in its walls. The process ends when the ingested matter is propelled into the stomach through the gastric sphincter.
There are some reasons why this process might be difficult or impossible. The esophageal muscles may be impaired in some way, such as by being too weak to move anything or because they are otherwise injured.
Sometimes, the peristalsis starts to be irregular. These diffuse spasms are very strong and come in quick succession, in the involuntary muscles of the esophagus. This is similar to cardiac arrhythmia in that it is not like the usual predictable rhythm in the muscular contractions.
Another common problem is a blockage in the gullet. Tumors are one reason why this happens, and large pieces of food are another. Any foreign object can potentially have this outcome.
Like all muscular activity in the body, the esophagus is controlled by the nervous system. Illnesses of the nerves, such as polio or muscular dystrophy, can inhibit swallowing, as can nerve lesions such as those resulting from mechanical trauma or strokes.
Monitoring the swallowing action is necessary in diagnosing the problem. The person is asked to eat or drink something that has been infused with barium, which is the contrast material. The X-ray cannot show muscle tissue but in the presence of barium it is able to, because the metal reflects the X-rays. Their esophagus is then checked to see how it functions as it processes the ingested material. This is known as a dynamic swallowing exercise.
Secondly, a dynamic swallowing exercise is a live depiction of patient gullet action. The latter swallows barium food or liquid and is then monitored as it passes through to their stomach. The working of their food canal is assessed to see if it is healthy.
Manometry is a test of the strength of the muscles in the esophagus. A tube is inserted into the patient's mouth and it then applies pressure to the muscular walls of the food passage. The reaction of the muscles can be measured to determine if they are too weak or not functioning properly.
Testing the strength of those muscles is done during a manometry exam. This also involves inserting a tube into the mouth, but this time the tube exerts pressure on the walls of the food canal to ascertain their power and coordination.
All of these methods are relatively easy to endure. Dysphagia is not usually associated with younger people, and may occur from time to time on a once-off basis. But where it persists, it should be seen to.
About the Author:
Read about the swallow study for dysphagia through clinical resources. To see links for patients of cancer and Parkinson disease, click on this link http://www.swallowstudy.com.
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