If you ever succumb to a stroke, then it is not merely the brain that becomes slow, but also a host of other organs start malfunctioning. Since the brain is the control unit of your body, once it is no longer functioning at its best, physical problems begin to crop up. Surely, that can be extremely troublesome for those who want to live their life to the fullest. Such a malfunctioning is exemplary for those who have had a stroke in the past. Among the many problems that a stroke can throw up for you, swallowing seems to be a recurring problem, especially in the first few weeks.

Now The Cause

Swallowing is simple when your brain is fully developed, and you do it very easily without thinking much. But, imagine how difficult it is for children with their brain functions still primitive and you will understand that swallowing is not too easy. It is precisely why liquid consumption is encouraged for children since they have not mastered the art of swallowing solid food yet. This problem is often termed as Dysphagia and occurs among adults when you have had a stroke recently. The part of the brain that is responsible for doing this may go haywire after swallowing, and that is precisely the source of the problem.

The Primary Symptoms 

The problem of swallowing is persisting, and you should learn the symptoms that can indicate the issue. After you have a stroke and you are admitted to the hospital, you will be checked if you can swallow properly after a few hours. If you cannot, then that is the primary symptom of Dysphagia. However, this is not always the case as the problem can surface after you are released from the hospital. So, what you need to do is keep an eye open for the secondary symptoms.

The Secondary Symptoms

Some secondary symptoms can indicate your Dysphagia post-stroke. Your voice may become croaky; you may cough a lot while having something. You may not feel comfortable regarding the food at all, and you may have some food left in your mouth even after you have apparently swallowed it all. Your chewing power will be nearly gone, and you will take hours to finish a meal. You will also now swallow more than once to clean the throat, and there could be all sorts of problems regarding this. Moreover, these can lead to further serious problems.

The After-Effects Of Stroke

If Dysphagia is troubling you a lot, then you may not be very pleased knowing that not swallowing safely can lead to another problem called aspiration. Aspiration can lead to pneumonia and also lung infections. In fact, there is another, an even more dangerous variation called silent aspiration. So, only a trained professional will be able to tell you whether you are doing it right or not. Hence, even if there are no issues of swallowing in the hospital, you should get a check up after two weeks.

Can It Get Better?

If you are having such problems, you don’t need to lose sleep over this. They do get cured, and you can swallow safely after a few weeks. However, if you are unlucky and you fall within the small percentage for which the problem persists, then you may need to look for medications and therapeutic interventions. Thankfully, Dysphagia does have its solutions, and you will be cured of it well.

What Are The Solutions?

If you are having swallowing problems, a speech therapist may help. They will assess your problems first by trying to understand the obstacles. Then, they will be suggesting the possible remedies for this problem. Dysphagia can be countered using various tactics. You can have thick drinks that are easy to swallow. Mashed potato and other smoother foods can be part of your diet. You should always have them cold so that the hotness is not an impediment to the swallowing process. Also, you have to stop eating in copious amounts twice or thrice a day and have small meals throughout the day. The therapist will also chart out the safe foods as well as the unsafe ones. This diet may shift according to your response to this therapy. If the problem is aggravating, then you may have to be tube fed.