Disease or Syndrome
dysphagia

dys·pha·gia [ dis-fey-juh, -jee-uh ]
Subclass of:
Pharyngeal Diseases;
Esophageal Diseases
Etymology:
Greek dys = difficult + phago = I eat + -ia = condition
Applied to swallowing only, not to eating in any other sense.
Applied to swallowing only, not to eating in any other sense.
Also called:
Dysphagia
Definitions related to deglutition disorders:
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(dysphagia) A symptom referring to difficulty in swallowing. It may be observed in patients with stroke, motor neuron disorders, cancer of the throat or mouth, head and neck injuries, Parkinson disease, and multiple sclerosis.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(dysphagia) Difficulty chewing and swallowing food. Dysphagia is extremely common after a stroke.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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(dysphagia) Difficulty in swallowing.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
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(swallowing disorders) If you have a swallowing disorder, you may have difficulty or pain when swallowing. Some people cannot swallow at all. Others may have trouble swallowing liquids, foods, or saliva. This makes it hard to eat. Often, it can be difficult to take in enough calories and fluids to nourish your body. Anyone can have a swallowing disorder, but it is more common in older adults. It often happens because of other conditions, including Nervous system disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy; Problems with your esophagus, including GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease); Stroke; Head or spinal cord injury; Cancer of the head, neck, or esophagus. Medicines can help some people, while others may need surgery. Swallowing treatment with a speech-language pathologist can help. You may find it helpful to change your diet or hold your head or neck in a certain way when you eat. In very serious cases, people may need feeding tubes. NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Difficulty in SWALLOWING which may result from neuromuscular disorder or mechanical obstruction. Dysphagia is classified into two distinct types: oropharyngeal dysphagia due to malfunction of the PHARYNX and UPPER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER; and esophageal dysphagia due to malfunction of the ESOPHAGUS.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(dysphagia/ odynophagia) A symptom referring to difficult and or painful swallowing.U.S. FDA GlossaryU.S. Food & Drug Administration, 2021
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(dysphagia) A disorder characterized by difficulty in swallowing.Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse EventsU.S. National Institutes of Health, 2021
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Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing. The condition results from impeded transport of liquids, solids, or both from the pharynx to the stomach. Dysphagia should not be confused with globus sensation (a feeling of having a lump in the throat), which is not a swallowing disorder and occurs without impaired transport.Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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The term dysphagia, a Greek word that means disordered eating, typically refers to difficulty in eating as a result of disruption in the swallowing process. Dysphagia can be a serious health threat because of the risk of aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, weight loss, and airway obstruction, and it exerts a large influence...WebMD, 2019
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Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) means it takes more time and effort to move food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Dysphagia may also be associated with pain. In some cases, swallowing may be impossible.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.