Swallowing Disorders Associated with Feeding Tube Dependency (FTD)
Swallowing occurs in three stages, or phases, and issues can arise in one or more of these. They are:
Oral phase (mouth) – involves sucking, chewing, and moving food or liquid to the throat.
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Pharyngeal phase (throat) – initiates swallowing and pushes food down the throat while closing the airway to prevent food or liquid from entering, which can lead to coughing and choking.
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Esophageal phase – involves the opening and closing of the esophagus (the tube connecting the back of the throat to the stomach), which propels food towards the stomach. Obstructions in the esophagus can occur, and frequent vomiting may be a sign of esophageal issues or acid reflux, also known as indigestion or heartburn.
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Feeding tube dependency often results from swallowing disorders, including conditions like dysphagia or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Swallowing disorders are more prevalent among the elderly; however, with 15 million Americans affected, individuals across all age groups can be at significant risk.
Information About Specific Swallowing Disorders Associated with Feeding Tube Dependency
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is a medical condition that causes a person to have problems swallowing. Weak muscles in the mouth and throat areas can cause the problem. A restricted amount of saliva production, problems with the brain affecting the body’s nervous system, or damage in a person’s esophagus can also cause dysphagia.
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Those most commonly affected by dysphagia are the elderly, those who have had a stroke, individuals with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, and people with Alzheimer’s disease. Those who suffer from nervous system disorders or head, neck, and spinal cord injuries are also more prone to dysphagia. In addition, individuals who have had internal burns from poisoning or radiotherapy, as well as people who have an infection or other problems in the mouth or throat area, are more likely to develop dysphagia
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
GERD is characterized by symptoms, with or without tissue damage, that result from repeated or prolonged exposure of the lining of the esophagus to acidic or non-acidic contents from the stomach. If tissue damage is present, the individual is said to have esophagitis or erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease. The presence of symptoms with no evident tissue damage is referred to as non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.
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Gastroesophageal reflux disease is often accompanied by symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation of acid. But sometimes there are no apparent symptoms, and the presence of GERD is revealed only when complications become evident.
Esophageal achalasia
Achalasia, a rare condition affecting about 1 in every 100,000 individuals each year, is defined as a disorder of the esophagus in which the band of muscle located where the esophagus and stomach meet fails to function properly. This muscle is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and it typically relaxes when a person swallows. However, in people diagnosed with achalasia, the LES does not fully relax and the normal muscle activity of the esophagus is reduced. Therefore, food is not properly moved through the esophagus to the stomach.
Esophageal tumor (cancerous growths)
Esophageal cancer originates from cell growth within the esophagus, which is a long, hollow tube connecting the throat to the stomach. It facilitates the movement of swallowed food from the throat to the stomach for digestion. Typically, esophageal cancer starts in the cells lining the esophagus and can occur anywhere along its length. This type of cancer is more prevalent in men, with risk factors including alcohol consumption and tobacco use.