Trouble Swallowing
The medical term for swallowing difficulty is dysphagia. It is a common symptom of many medical conditions, including brain disorders, muscle disorders, and physical blockage. One of the diseases in which dysphagia is a sign is gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
Patients may experience mild or severe dysphagia. They may experience pain swallowing solid food, drinking, excessive drooling, and hoarseness. Patients with GERD also complain about frequent heartburn, gagging, painful coughing, and loss of appetite, leading to extreme weight loss. Adults can tolerate the pain more than children and elderly patients. Children with GERD often suffer from malnutrition since they refuse to eat. While elderly patients suffer from several complications like low blood sugar levels.
The connection between GERD and dysphagia can be seen in the irritation in the esophagus and throat. Because of this, scar tissue can develop in the esophagus, narrowing the esophagus and leading to difficulty in swallowing and the potential emergence of different symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Patients suffering from GERD for a long time experience difficulty eating and drinking, leading to chronic health problems.
