Causes of Swallowing Disorders

Roughly, 18 million Americans have soreness or difficulty while swallowing.

Severe swallowing disorders require long-term rehabilitation or surgery. Mild swallowing problems — although easier to treat — still may affect your quality of life.

At the UPMC Swallowing Disorders Center, we treat both severe and mild swallowing conditions.

Risks of Untreated Swallowing Disorders

If dysphagia — the medical term for swallowing issues — goes untreated, it may lead to severe problems such as:

Aspiration pneumonia — an infection that may result from food or liquid entering the lungs
Chronic bronchitis
Dehydration
Malnutrition
Pulmonary fibrosis

Causes of Swallowing Disorders and Nutrition Issues

Swallowing disorders and related nutrition issues can be the result of:

Side effects of medical treatments

Combined chemo and radiation therapy
Radiotherapy
Surgical changes to the anatomy

Surgery

Cervical spine surgery
Mouth and throat surgery
Thyroid surgery
Tracheostomy

Certain medical conditions

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA or stroke)
Dry mouth (xerostomia)
Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
Head and neck cancers
Trauma to the head and neck
Vocal cord paralysis

Chronic nervous system disorders

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Myasthenia gravis
Parkinson’s disease

Autoimmune disorders

Myositis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Scleroderma

Aging

Deconditioning
Dementia
Generalized weakness
Loss of muscle mass

Swallowing and Nutrition Concerns During Radiation Treatment

If you have concerns about swallowing and nutrition during radiation therapy for head or neck cancer, please see:

Make an Appointment at the Swallowing Disorders Center

To make an appointment or learn more about treatment, call 412-647-6461 or email the UPMC Swallowing Disorders Center.

Learn what to expect at your first visit to the Swallowing Disorders Center.

Learn More About Causes of Swallowing Disorders

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