Swallowing (cont.)
Jay W. Marks, MD
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
In this Article
- What is dysphagia?
- What causes dysphagia?
- Physical obstruction of the pharynx or esophagus
- Diseases of the brain
- Diseases of the smooth muscle of the esophagus
- Diseases of the skeletal muscle of the pharynx
- Miscellaneous diseases
- What are the symptoms of dysphagia?
- Swallowing related symptoms
- Non-swallowing related symptoms
- What is the differential diagnosis for dysphagia?
- How is dysphagia evaluated and the cause diagnosed?
- How is dysphagia treated?
- What is the prognosis for dysphagia?
- What does the future offer for dysphagia?
- Dysphagia At A Glance
- Find a local Gastroenterologist in your town
Diseases of skeletal muscle of the pharynx
- Polymyositis. Polymyositis is a disease of unknown cause in which skeletal
muscle becomes inflamed and degenerates. It can affect skeletal muscle of the body as well
as the pharynx.
- Myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia gravis is a disease in which there is abnormal
transmission of signals between motor nerves and the skeletal muscles they control. The
skeletal muscle of the pharynx may be affected.
- Muscular dystrophies. The muscular dystrophies are a group of inherited
(genetic) diseases that are caused by the production of abnormal proteins in skeletal muscle
cells. The abnormal proteins result in degeneration of the muscle cells and their
replacement with scar tissue or fat. The primary symptoms of the muscular dystrophies are muscle
weakness and spasm. Examples of muscular dystrophies include myotonic
dystrophy, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, and Becker's muscular dystrophy.
- Metabolic myopathies. Metabolic myopathies are a group of rare, inherited (genetic) diseases that are caused by a deficiency in activity of the enzymes in skeletal muscle cells that are important for generating the energy that is necessary for contraction of the muscle. The most common symptom of the metabolic myopathies is easy tiring of muscles and muscle cramps.
Miscellaneous diseases
- Reduced saliva. Saliva facilitates swallowing by acting as lubrication for
the bolus. Some medications, diseases (for example,
Sjogren's syndrome), and radiation therapy to
the head and neck that includes the salivary glands, all of which can reduce the
production of saliva, can cause dysphagia, though usually it is mild.
- Alzheimer's disease
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