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You go to take a bite of oatmeal or sip of coffee, but you feel a painful lump in your throat. You chew a piece of bread or meat but it does not completely go all the way through and into your stomach.  If you’re suffering from difficulty swallowing, you have a condition called dysphagia. Other symptoms that may occur include a hoarseness of the throat, drooling, and sudden weight loss. It is more common in older people, but anyone may be affected. If you think you might have this condition, experienced medical doctor John R. Loughrey in Cincinnati, OH, will explain what you need to know.

Dysphagia 101: A Medical Doctor Explains

Act Quickly

If you’re suffering from difficulty swallowing, recurring heartburn, drooling,, or coughing and gagging while eating, listen to your symptoms and visit a medical doctor as soon as possible. It might not seem like a major issue at first, but the condition may quickly exacerbate. If untreated, eventually, it may lead to dehydration, malnutrition, or aspiration pneumonia. While dysphagia is sometimes a condition in itself, other times, it’s symptomatic of a bigger problem. For the sake of your health as well as day-to-day quality of life, seek support as soon as possible.

How a Doctor Can Help

If you think you have medical doctordysphagia, you should preferably visit a doctor that specializes in gastroenterology. Your doctor may use various tests to diagnose the issue at hand — including a swallow study, barium swallow test, endoscopy, or manometry. To treat the issue, the medical doctor may recommend swallowing therapy, a change in diet, or in severe cases, temporary or permanent tube feeding. It also may be effectively treated with dilation of the esophagus or Botox injections in the esophagus muscles. These muscles may have become stiff, inhibiting swallowing.

If you’re having difficulty swallowing or digesting food, consult Cincinnati’s premier physician specializing in gastroenterology. To learn about how experienced medical doctor John R. Loughrey will help you, call the practice today at (513) 681-8800.

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