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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Anyone who has ever used an internet resource like WebMD can tell you that the potential medical implications of just about any symptom can be a lot to swallow, but this is especially true for anyone that experiences a literal difficulty swallowing, a condition known as dysphagia. Although difficulty swallowing is a serious condition by itself, the numerous underlying causes of it can often be just as serious if not more serious.
What Is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is a condition in which people experience difficulty swallowing—and therefore eating and drinking—after a related medical event. With the exception of functional dysphagia—which is basically dysphagia with no root causes—there are three categories of dysphagia which are related to an underlying condition or event. The categories of dysphagia include Oropharyngeal dysphagia, Esophageal and obstructive dysphagia, neuromuscular symptom complexes and functional dysphagia. Functional dysphagia is when dysphagia is present with no organic causes found.
What Is dysphagia Caused By?
The biggest medical ramification of receiving a diagnosis of dysphagia is usually a pressing need for more diagnostic tests. dysphagia is a hypochondriac’s worst nightmare because the seriousness of dysphagia is twofold. The condition itself can be fatal—humans are designed to swallow food in order to remain alive—but it can also be a sign of many far more serious problems that are still undiagnosed. dysphagia is the sort of condition that does not have one root cause or singular reason for existing. dysphagia can be caused by a lot of things, including an ominous number of terrifying diseases. It can be caused by Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Distrophy or having a stroke. It may also be the result of esophageal spasms, immune system problems, and bone spurs. Many causes of dysphagia require their own additional medical inquiry.
How Is It Treated?
Receiving a diagnosis of dysphagia can be a lot like going down a medical rabbit hole for some patients. If a doctor confirms that a patient’s difficulty swallowing is being caused by esophageal spasms, for example, then the next step for that doctor will be to find out what’s causing those. The most common general treatment for dysphagia is the application of products like Simply Thick.
What Is Simply Thick?
Simply Thick is an instant thickener that is designed specifically for dysphagia patients. Simply Thick creator John L. Holahan first developed the product as an undergraduate university student, before going on to found his company alongside several classmates. When Holahan partnered with speech pathologists that were working with patients experiencing dysphagia, they found that the patients were able to drink more liquids with Simply Thick added than otherwise. This discovery propelled Simply Thick to become the large and successful company it is today thanks to Holahan’s critical breakthrough.
Can Simply Thick Cure dysphagia?
The importance of an invention like Simply Thick cannot be overstated as many dysphagia patients must literally how to swallow all over again, a practice that instant thickener makes far more possible in some patients. Although the underlying cause of dysphagia usually requires its own treatment and attention, instant thickeners play a critical role in allowing the patient to still drink and retain fluids during what can often be a lengthy sub-diagnostic process.
The scariest thing about an unexplained symptom is the potential conditions it could be caused by. This is perhaps more true with dysphagia than any other medical problem.