The difficulty in swallowing, or dysphagia, is a condition that can affect people of all ages. Understand the issue better and see what the treatment is like.

What is difficulty in swallowing

The difficulty in swallowing, whether liquid or solid food, can occur either in the mouth itself or in the tube that connects the esophagus to the stomach. The medical term for the condition is dysphagia.

Main symptoms of dysphagia

The main symptoms of dysphagia are:

• the need to alternate solid and liquid foods (to help the food go down);
• sensation of having something stuck in the throat or esophagus;
• the need to clear the throat repeatedly;
• episodes of feeling food or drink coming out through the nose while swallowing;
• pain in the throat or chest when swallowing;
• change in voice pitch or hoarseness;
• sensation of choking or the need to cough after swallowing.

What are the main causes and treatments

The process that takes food and liquids to the stomach is complex. The tongue moves in a way to push the food to the back of the mouth so that it reaches the throat. In this case, what is being ingested must pass through the feeding tube, however, the trachea is located close to the destination.

Therefore, there is a flap in the throat responsible for protecting the entrance of the trachea from food, ensuring that the food and drink go to the feeding tube.

In this sense, the main causes of difficulty in swallowing are:

• stroke (which affected part of the brain);
• certain medications;
• cancer of the digestive tube (which involves the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach);
• diseases that weaken the muscles needed for swallowing;
• irritation of the esophagus caused by stomach acid;
• infection, such as Chagas disease, which leads to megaesophagus;
• diseases that lead to a change in the innervation of the esophagus, such as achalasia.

Important: people with swallowing problems may lose weight due to low intake of food and nutrients.

Esofágica dysphagia

When dysphagia occurs after swallowing, the causes can be varied. The main ones are: peptic stenosis, tumors of the esophagus, diverticula, foreign body impaction, eosinophilic esophagitis, achalasia, esophageal spasm, nutcracker esophagus, progressive systemic sclerosis, Chagas disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Treatment for dysphagia

The treatment for difficulty in swallowing intrinsically depends on the cause. The problem can often be treated with medications, if it is necessary to reduce acid levels (in those suffering from gastroesophageal reflux), with surgical procedures, and even endoscopic ones.

In addition to drug treatment, a speech therapist can assist with complementary techniques, such as guiding the consumption of foods that help strengthen the muscles in the region.

In the case of cancer causing dysphagia, surgery may be necessary to repair the problem. In the last case, the doctor may opt to perform a gastrostomy.

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Difficulty in swallowing is a condition that can develop at any stage of life, so it is very important to understand the main information on the subject. Through EndoBlog, it is possible to access complete content about dysphagia, treatments, and how exams, such as endoscopy, can help in the diagnosis.

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Intestinal constipation, also called constipation, refers to the difficulty or absence of bowel movements. Understand better how the problem occurs and see what to do to avoid it.

What is intestinal constipation?

Intestinal constipation is considered a bowel disorder in which the affected person has great difficulty evacuating, going weeks without going to the bathroom.

Normal bowel movements vary from person to person. Some people have bowel movements 3 times a day, and that is normal. Other people have bowel movements three times a week, and that’s also fine.

The problem occurs when there is a reduction in frequency from what was considered normal, as well as when associated symptoms arise, such as hardened stools, pain, and the need for excessive effort to evacuate.

Main symptoms of constipation

The main symptom is the absence of regular bowel movements. Generally, a healthy individual can evacuate at least once a day. People who go up to two days with constipation should pay attention if this occurs recurrently.

Other symptoms of constipation are:

• hardened or “dried out” stools;
• difficulty evacuating (need for a lot of effort);
• swelling and abdominal pain;
• excess gas;
• sensation of incomplete evacuation;
• irritability;
• digestive disorders.

What are the treatment alternatives?

Constipation is not exactly a disease, but a symptom of poor bowel function. In this sense, treatments seek to improve the health of the digestive system, as a way to ensure a more peaceful evacuation.

Diet is an important cause of intestinal constipation. Therefore, it is recommended to consume foods rich in fiber, such as:

• whole grains;
• fruits;
• vegetables;
• vegetables;
• foods with laxative properties (plums, papaya, green juices, fiber supplements).

In more delicate cases, it may be necessary to seek the help of a health professional for the prescription of suppositories or intestinal washes to relieve the situation.

Important: the use of laxatives should be strictly monitored by a doctor, as prolonged use can have adverse effects.

Is it possible to prevent intestinal constipation?

Some habits help to prevent intestinal constipation. They are:

• balanced, healthy diet, prioritizing the consumption of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, etc;
• seeking ways to reduce stress, whether by doing an outdoor activity, reading a book, or meditating. Stress directly influences the health of the entire digestive system and, therefore, needs to be combated;
• consuming at least 2 liters of water per day to help the body in the formation of the fecal bolus;
• exercising frequently, helping to improve gastrointestinal motility. With the intestine working better, the risk of constipation is much lower;
• never taking laxatives continuously and without medical supervision. The indiscriminate use of these substances can cause intestinal lesions and greatly harm the health of the body.

Chronic constipation: what is it?

In general, one in five people says they have suffered from chronic constipation, that is, long-term constipation. The risk factors that can make constipation evolve into something chronic are:

• lack of physical activities;
• fiber-poor diet;
• pregnancy and childbirth;
• low water consumption;
• use of certain medications (anticonvulsants, antidepressants, diuretics, analgesics, aluminum antacids, antispasmodics, and antihistamines);
• neurological diseases and diabetes.

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Intestinal constipation brings a lot of discomfort and many questions. With this in mind, EndoBlog was developed by the professionals at Endoscopia Terapêutica to deliver quality content to all those seeking more information about health and quality of life.

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Gastritis is a type of inflammation in the stomach lining that causes a lot of pain and burning, and can progress to more severe symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite.

Have your questions about gastritis answered and learn how to access other content on health and well-being.

What is gastritis?

Simply put, gastritis is an inflammation located in the inner lining (mucosa) of the stomach. This inflammation indicates that there is an injury or irritation in the organ.

The condition can occur in crises (acutely) or chronically, which requires continuous treatment to control pain and discomfort.

Below, have the main questions about the disease answered.

Main questions about gastritis

What is the cause of gastritis?

Gastritis can have more than one cause. They are:

• excessive alcohol consumption;
• smoking;
• continuous use of anti-inflammatory drugs or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA);
• infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Regarding symptoms, gastritis tends to manifest through certain signs. They are:

• abdominal pains;
• indigestion;
• nausea;
• loss of appetite;
• burning and heartburn;
• vomiting.

The diagnosis can be made based on:

• endoscopy, where a specialist inserts an endoscope to identify the focus of inflammation and analyze the stomach. In addition, they also collect small tissue samples and send them to a laboratory to confirm the presence (or absence) of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

Risk factors

The main risk factors for the development of gastritis are:

• abuse of anti-inflammatory drugs;
• excessive alcohol consumption;
• significant consumption of fatty and acidic foods;
• Crohn’s disease;
• stress;
• excessive intake of caffeine-containing foods;
• genetic predisposition;
• smoking.

Prevention and diet

Diet is a fundamental factor in the prevention and treatment of gastritis. It is advisable to reduce the consumption of products that may increase stomach acidity, such as alcohol, coffee, and pepper.

In addition, fatty foods require more acid production by the stomach during digestion, so they are also on the list of items to be avoided, as well as pure milk, which encourages the production of gastric juice.

Possible treatments

The treatments for gastritis can vary according to each case. There are cases, for example, where gastritis improves after a short time, others are much more serious.

The main treatments are:

• antibiotics, if gastritis is caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori;
• dietary re-education, to avoid the production of acid and gastric juice;
• taking medications, such as antacids, to reduce stomach acidity.

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Gastritis varies greatly from case to case. A crisis can last only a few hours, others up to weeks for the symptoms to be controlled. It is essential to have the help and follow-up of a professional who guides the best treatment.

In addition, through EndoBlog, you can access all content about the stomach, gastritis, and endoscopy completely free of charge. Follow the blog to keep up with the main articles on the subject, like this one about: esophageal variceal ligation

Also read: Endoscopic treatment of gastric varices | Upper Digestive Endoscopy | Intragastric Balloon