Swallowing Disorder

There are many disorders that can lead an individual to have difficulty swallowing. One example would be when someone suffers a stroke. Swallowing involves organized interactions between several areas of the brain and the peripheral systems and when a stroke occurs many of these systems are disrupted and the ability to swallow is affected. This can occur in up to 65 percent of stroke patients and if not identified and managed correctly then it can lead to poor nutrition and increased disability and a compromised immune system. There is also a high risk of aspiration among patients that have a swallowing disorder (American Heart Association, 2012).
Swallowing disorders can affect the lungs. Sometimes, when foods or liquids enter the windpipe of a person who has dysphagia, and coughing or throat clearing cannot remove it then the food or liquid that stays in the windpipe may enter the lungs. This can create a chance for harmful bacteria to grow and a serious infection (aspiration pneumonia) can result (Groher & Crary, 2010).

There are many disorders that can lead an individual to have difficulty swallowing. One example would be when someone suffers a stroke. Swallowing involves organized interactions between several areas of the brain and the peripheral systems and when a stroke occurs many of these systems are disrupted and the ability to swallow is affected. This can occur in up to 65 percent of stroke patients and if not identified and managed correctly then it can lead to poor nutrition and increased disability and a compromised immune system. There is also a high risk of aspiration among patients that have a swallowing disorder (American Heart Association, 2012).
Swallowing disorders can affect the lungs. Sometimes, when foods or liquids enter the windpipe of a person who has dysphagia, and coughing or throat clearing cannot remove it then the food or liquid that stays in the windpipe may enter the lungs. This can create a chance for harmful bacteria to