DYSPHAGIA-CAUSES

SUMMARY

1. Transfer disorders (oropharyngeal): neurologic deficits leading to oropharyngeal muscle dysfunction, resulting in difficulty transfer­ring food from the mouth to the esophagus.
- Symptoms include coughing, gagging, and nasal regurgitating immediately upon swallowing.
- Common causes: stroke, Parkinson disease & ALS.

2. Motility disorders: trouble with transporting food from the upper esophagus to the stomach.
- Due to failure of effective peristalsis and/or failure of LES relaxation.
- Endogenous or exogenous causes, such as achalasia.

3. Anatomic or structural disorders: physical obstruction of the esophageal lumen.

Reference(s)

Cifu, D.X. (2020). Braddom’s physical medicine and rehabilitation. Elsevier. Get it on Amazon.
Cuccurullo, S. (2019). Physical medicine and rehabilitation board review. New York: Demosmedical. Get it on Amazon.
O’Young, B., Young, M.A. and Stiens, S.A. (2008). Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Secrets. Mosby. Get it on Amazon.