Final answer:
Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing and can manifest through various symptoms such as gargling sounds after swallowing, drooling, choking or coughing while eating, food avoidance, and respiratory issues like shortness of breath. It stems from issues in the deglutition process, which includes voluntary, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Signs and Symptoms of Dysphagia
Dysphagia is a condition characterized by difficulty swallowing. It involves a problem with the deglutition process, which is the movement of food from the mouth to the stomach. The symptoms of dysphagia can include:
- Gargling sounds after swallowing
- Drooling
- Choking or coughing while eating
- Food avoidance due to discomfort or difficulty swallowing
- A preference for certain textures of food, such as softer foods or liquids
- Respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezes, or stridor
The deglutition process consists of three phases: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. Problems can arise in any of these stages, leading to the symptoms of dysphagia.