Dysphagia, which means "difficult swallowing," can be due to problems in your mouth, throat or esophagus. According to the June 2000 "American Family Physician," esophageal dysphagia can be a symptom of aging, neurologic problems, esophageal...
Dysphagia is the condition that results in choking on food and liquid or aspirating these into the lungs, which can be silent and imperceptible. In the most severe cases, patients even choke on their own saliva. Many disorders can cause or lead to...
It can be very uncomfortable when your throat feels tight. If you do not know why your throat feels tight, this may even make you feel alarmed. Depending on the cause, the problem may be constant or intermittent. Although you may be able to...
Tongue fungus, or oral thrush, is easily identifiable as an off-white lesion coating the tongue, cheeks, gums or palate. It is caused by the Candida fungus, or yeast, and is not limited to the mouth. Vaginal yeast infection and diaper rash are...
The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located just under the skin at the base of the neck that regulates the body's energy rate, including heart pulse and blood pressure. The thyroid can become enlarged for many reasons, including production of...
A soft diet consists of foods that are easy to swallow. Soft diets ensure patients maintain a healthful weight and get their daily nutritional requirements. According to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology in Pennsylvania, soft diets are...
The esophagus is the digestive organ that connects the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal cancer occurs when cancer cells invade the esophagus and begin to multiply and spread. Risk factors for esophageal cancer include drinking, smoking, and...
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) describes the esophagus as a 10-inch long muscular tube in the chest that connects the mouth and the stomach. Each year, 13,000 men and 3,500 women are diagnosed with esophageal cancer. NCI reports that...
Acid reflux is a common condition in which the contents of the stomach rise backward (reflux) into the esophagus--the muscular tube that connects the throat and stomach. It is more specifically referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease...
The tonsils, located at the rear of the throat, work to trap toxins from the nasal passages and mouth. The tonsils also normally work to produce antibodies that protect the body from infections. However, sometimes the tonsils become inflamed and...
Difficulty swallowing, medically defined as dysphagia, means it takes longer and requires more effort to move what you eat and drink from your mouth to your stomach. Swallowing problems may arise when you eat too fast and/or don't chew your food...
Most people experience dry mouth at some point in their lives, and it's a common occurrence when waking up. In many cases, dry mouth can be avoided by making a few lifestyle or habit changes. But if you experience frequent dry mouth, or dry mouth...
Fosamax is a brand name for alendronate, a medication in the bisphosphonate drug group used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and other degenerative bone diseases. Bone is continuously renewed, a process that requires balance...
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is responsible for causing symptoms such as heartburn, bile regurgitation, belching and difficult swallowing. If you have GERD, you may find that certain body positions, such as bending or lying down,...
Metamucil, an over-the-counter fiber product, can be used as a dietary supplement or laxative. Although stomach pain is not a common side effect of the product, it may occur. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about the way...
Typically, a constant cough in infants is caused by a viral infection. An infant's immune system is still young and a constant cough should be monitored closely. Knowing when it's time to seek medical attention is helpful for parents. There are a...
Getting enough calcium works as more than just a way to build up your bone health and fight off osteoporosis. It also helps with overall health, including better muscle contractions, better fat metabolism and a lower risk of some kinds of cancer....
Most dental abscesses remain localized and pose no serious threat to general health. Still, each year work and school time is lost because of dental abscesses and facial cellulitis, according to the “California Dental Association...
Dandelion as an herbal remedy has several traditional and alternative medical uses, including one for the thyroid gland. However, research is lacking on this herb's effectiveness for treating any health condition, according to MedlinePlus. Consult...
The dietary supplement market is a thriving industry in America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over 50 percent of Americans take dietary supplements, with multivitamins and multi-minerals being the most common....
According to the Mayo Clinic, tonsillitis occurs when the tonsils become infected from bacteria or a virus. The result is pain, inflammation and sometimes fever or other signs of illness. Tonsillitis is most often caused by a virus and is treated...
Whenever you swallow foods or liquids, they pass from the back of your throat to your stomach through a long tube called the esophagus. Whenever you burp, the air rises through the esophagus to reach the back of your throat. However, your...
The esophagus is a 10-inch tube that brings food from the mouth to the stomach to be digested. The National Institute of Cancer reports that esophageal cancer is more common in men in the United States, with 13,000 new diagnoses in men each year,...
Heartburn, sometimes called acid indigestion, occurs when digestive acids escape the stomach and travel up the tube that leads from the stomach to the mouth (the esophagus). These acids cause irritation in the lining of the esophagus and typically...
There it is, your favorite food is calling you from the buffet but you hesitate. You know there will be a price to pay if you enjoy its wonderful taste. You will experience the severe searing burning sensation that travels up the middle of your...
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive system. Although the last segment of the small bowel proves the most common site of involvement, Crohn's disease can affect any part of the digestive system. Crohn's disease...
A dry mouth and sore throat often provoke secondary symptoms, which may cause additional distress and discomfort. The causes of a dry mouth and sore throat vary widely in severity, from the common cold to permanent malfunction of the...
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, commonly known as AIDS, is the last stage of infection with the human immunodefiency virus, or HIV. AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death in people 25 to 44 years old in the United States, according to...
Most of us remain unaware of our esophagus until it's injured. However, the esophagus plays an important role in digestion. When injured, the muscular tube delivering food from the throat to the stomach causes painful and difficult swallowing....
Sore throat, or pharyngitis, is a painful condition wherein the pharynx inflames and makes swallowing difficult. Learn more about sore throat in this health video.
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils caused by bacteria or a virus. Learn about tonsillitis, including treatments, in this oral health video.
