Swallowing is one of the most basic functions that mediate energy supply in the body. The act of swallowing, which allows nutrients and liquids to pass into the body, is of vital importance. Experts emphasized that swallowing is essential for life, just like breathing, and noted that the act of swallowing is performed 300 times in a 1-hour meal, drawing attention to the dangers that may occur in swallowing disorders. One of the most basic functions is to provide energy by chewing and carrying it to our stomach and from there to our intestines. Of course, this can be food or liquid. It somehow provides this to us, and just as we are not aware of most of our actions, we are not aware of our swallowing in daily life; until it breaks down...
We swallow 1,500 times a day
People have never thought about swallowing 300 times or have never sat down and counted. What they say, 'Life passes through the throat' actually expresses the necessity of taking in food to maintain body integrity, and this is done through swallowing. We somehow get food into our body by chewing and swallowing. In daily life, we swallow almost 300 times during meals; But other than that, we swallow up to 1500 times a day, which is so essential that swallowing can occur in humans without being conscious.
An average of 35 muscles are used in the act of swallowing. working
A swallowing sweeping job. We wet and soften the food we put in our mouth and pump it backwards. There should be nothing left in the mouth after swallowing. But when the pumping action is weak, food accumulates in the larynx, base of the tongue, and inside the cheek. When the mouth is not cleaned sufficiently after swallowing, it leaks backwards and into the trachea. There may be escape into the lungs before, during and after swallowing. We call this 'aspiration'.
Swallowing disorders cause severe infections
Normally the lungs Food should not go inside. Food and saliva are chemicals. When these substances get into the lungs, they can cause severe infections that we call pneumonia. This is the most important risk. this disorder uklar; It can cause severe, non-healing pneumonia, which can be life-threatening, especially in elderly patients.
Heimlich maneuver saves lives!
In some cases, food leakage into the trachea can be severe enough to cause suffocation. That's why there is something called the 'Heimlich maneuver' in first aid. In this way, you are trying to remove the piece that escaped from the person's lung.
50 percent of dementia or Alzheimer's patients have malnutrition
Swallowing disorders are a condition we see very frequently in neurology. Of course, this varies depending on the stage of the disease. Paralysis can start only with swallowing disorder. Almost half of the patients who have a stroke have a swallowing disorder in the early stages.
But we are lucky, the swallowing center in the brain stem is bilateral and not easily affected. Because it is very resilient because it is essential for survival. However, when looked at in the long term, this situation may change depending on the severity of the diseases. For example, in MS disease, swallowing disorders may occur over time and as the disease progresses. 50 percent of patients with dementia or Alzheimer's have malnutrition. This can take the form of weight loss or poor quality nutrition. But over the years, swallowing function may also deteriorate. The patient's relatives usually need to check the nutrition plan and its contents. But in very advanced stages, swallowing disorders do not only spread to the lungs and cause pneumonia. When there is malnutrition, the immune system also weakens in these cases. A general state of addiction emerges. The tendency towards infections is increasing. Swallowing disorder does not only cause death or danger due to food getting into the lungs or pneumonia. It also causes serious harm in indirect ways. It even prolongs the duration of hospital stay.
Swallowing is something that can be taught and learned
Under normal circumstances. Rehabilitation is very important to us. In other words, when swallowing is impaired after a stroke, in serious illnesses, or when there are problems in other limbs, the first thing that comes to mind is physical therapy.
But when there is a swallowing disorder, it is the same in general, in society, and among physicians. n There is an ihilistic approach. 'We can't do anything about this anymore, it will stay like this, let's put in a tube, let it stay that way' etc... The pharyngeal muscles also have their own, developed with technology, language and speech therapy and swallowing disorders specialists can take the process under control more quickly and swallowing can be taught again; It is something that can be taught and learned in which positions and with which foods the risk of shortness of breath is low. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate those opportunities. If the patient has a swallowing disorder, it is necessary to keep the disease under good control.
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