Final answer:
Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing, which can arise from conditions such as neurological disorders, aging, or problems with salivary glands.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difficulty swallowing, which can be the result of stroke, Parkinsonism, or decreased salivary production, is known as dysphagia.
Dysphagia is a condition that affects the process of deglutition, or swallowing. This process is complex and involves the coordination of muscles in the tongue, pharynx, and esophagus, with the aid of mucus and saliva. Although typically quick and effortless, swallowing can be disrupted due to various factors such as aging, neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease (caused by the degeneration of dopamine-releasing neurons), or issues with the salivary glands that lead to insufficient saliva production.
The condition impairs the ability to safely and efficiently move food from the mouth to the stomach, posing risks such as choking or aspiration and can greatly affect a person's quality of life.