If you’re going to ask an elderly what must be the most annoying age-related problem they have ever encountered, it would be choking while trying to swallow. Since birth, swallowing comes as natural as breathing, it sustains us and indeed the ability to swallow whatever we put inside our mouths plays a very important role in nourishing our bodies. However, swallowing problems are common among seniors, some may experience it once in a while but there are also a couple of seniors who have been battling with difficulty in swallowing especially those who are in very old age.
Medically, problem in swallowing is called as dysphagia. It is not a disease but a condition. Problem is, it can be life threatening when not treated right. Since swallowing involves many processes, it is very important for your doctor to exactly pinpoint the problem to arrive at the right kind of treatment for you. It is also important for any kind of swallowing difficulties to be detected as early as possible since the condition tends to worsen over time. If you are a caregiver and you notice these difficulties in your senior, be wise enough to notify his or her doctor before it is too late.
When swallowing, do note that there is only one tube used inside our body for breathing and swallowing which forks to the lungs and stomach. When we swallow, there is a coordinated effort of the muscles to guide the food to the stomach and not end up in the lungs. Further down, there is the esophageal sphincter which acts as a door—closing and opening—to allow the food into the stomach. If a muscle failed to do its job somewhere along the line then you’ll end up choking until your eye pops out of its socket!
In elderly, lack of muscle coordination or even abnormal contractions can cause dysphagia. Seniors who are suffering from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are the usual candidates for dysphagia since they can no longer control their bodies. Dysphagia can also occur if there is something obstructing your “pipe” like in cases of goiter wherein there is a mass, and of course cancer. Then there are some cases when there is stenosis or narrowing of the tube, making it harder for seniors to swallow.
For caregivers, be particularly vigilant of these signs as your senior may not openly admit they are having problems with swallowing:
•    Avoids dining with anyone or be caught eating—even by you. Choking can be embarrassing—reason enough to go out of their way just to make sure they won’t be seen having a choking bout.
•    Coughing while eating. Needless to say, coughing and choking sound very similar to one another.
•    Longer time spent on eating than usual. See if your senior is trying to slowly and deliberately chew their food and becomes hesitant when it’s time to swallow.