September 28, 2015 | Categories for this post are: Volume 6
Dysphagia, or swallowing difficulty, has been reported in as high as 95% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Frequently, changes in the swallowing mechanism occur gradually over time, so an individual may adapt to these changes without realizing there is a problem, until further symptoms begin to show. These symptoms may include choking on saliva, or food and liquids.
When the safety and efficiency of swallowing declines, material may be able to enter the airway and lungs, resulting in a lung infection referred to as “aspiration pneumonia.”
For some persons with Parkinson’s, difficulty managing or swallowing saliva can be one of the first signs of dysphagia. Secretions normally found in the mouth and throat contain many micro-organisms, and most of those do not cause disease. However, persons with poor oral hygiene have a greater amount of pathogens and a greater risk of pneumonia when they also have a swallowing problem.
If you notice any swallowing difficulty, you should seek help of a swallowing therapist.
Re-printable with permission from the author: Mary Spremulli, MA,CCC-SLP. Send correspondence to: info@voiceaerobicsdvd.com * learn more at: http://www.voiceaerobicsdvd.com/
