People with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing. Some people may have trouble safely swallowing liquids, foods, or saliva and some may be completely unable to swallow at all.
Dysphagia can be serious. Someone who cannot swallow safely may not be able to eat or drink enough to stay healthy or maintain an ideal weight. Food or liquid can also enter the airway and may enter the lungs; this can cause harmful bacteria to grow, resulting in chest infections and even pneumonia.
Some people with dysphagia may find it helpful to thicken their drinks or have modified food, but the same approach doesn’t benefit everyone. Your Speech & Language Therapist will assess your individual needs before recommending that you make changes to your food & drink.
You may experience difficulty swallowing after coronavirus for a number of reasons such as:
These changes are likely to improve as you recover from coronavirus but in some cases you may need extra help.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and/or feel that your ability to swallow is getting worse then please contact your GP.
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