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Swallowing problems, or dysphagia, are a common condition that occurs after a stroke or other neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, proper nutrition of the sick person is crucial in their quick recovery. See how to feed your patient to prevent him from choking food or drink into his lungs.
Dysphagia – that is, difficulty swallowing – is a disorder in the process of moving food from the mouth to the stomach. In sick people, we most often deal with oropharyngeal dysphagia, in the course of which there is a problem in the transport of food from the oral cavity to the esophagus. This process can be disrupted in several ways. Some patients have a problem with keeping food in the mouth, others in forming the food into a bite, and sometimes it is difficult to transport it from the mouth to the throat.
These difficulties are extremely dangerous as they can lead to choking and, consequently, aspiration pneumonia (PE), one of the most common causes of death in people after stroke. A significant PE is inflammation of the tissues resulting from the displacement of food contents to the bronchi and lungs.
However, you can minimize the risk of choking by keeping a few rules in mind.
Sick condition
If the patient’s condition is stable, he can be fed in the traditional way, bearing in mind only a few important changes in feeding the patient. The patient must be fully aware and cooperative when feeding. It is important not to be distracted by the TV set in the room or by talking to the caregiver while eating food, as this may increase the risk of choking with food or drink
Food form
The form of food and drink is extremely important for problems with swallowing. Dysphagia almost always disqualifies all solid foods because they are the hardest to swallow. Moreover, chewing them can be tiring for the sick. On the other hand, liquid foods (including drinks – including water) have a choking hazard. Therefore, it is best if the meals are grated as thick mousses. Cream soups or baked fruit work very well in this role. There are also specialized thickening preparations available on the market – which can be purchased at a pharmacy. Such a preparation is, for example, Nutilis Clear. Their use is very simple – the right amount of thickening powder is added to the ground food or drink and mixed. A meal prepared in this way changes the consistency that a patient with difficulty swallowing will be able to swallow more safely.
It should be remembered that before concentrating meals, consult a doctor who will determine what consistency of food and drinks will be best for the patient.
If you are concerned that this type of diet may be unbalanced, for example because it is difficult to incorporate meat into it, you can reach for a ready-made nutritional supplement that contains all the ingredients you need.
The right accessories
A spoon will of course be needed to eat thick, mashed foods. However, remember not to feed the sick person with a tablespoon, and a small spoon – smaller portions are simply easier to swallow. Moreover, the spoon should not be made of plastic, as many sick people tend to chew on it and swallowing crushed plastic can be dangerous. A special cup with a cut hole for the nose will also be helpful. It allows you to drink without tilting your head back. If you do not have such a cup, you can persuade the sick person to drink through a straw.
Preparation for a meal
When preparing for a meal, make sure that the sick person is in the correct position. If the person is lying down, sit them down while they eat to minimize the risk of choking. If necessary, you can help yourself with pillows that will support the patient. The torso should be at a 90-degree angle to the base and the chin should point slightly downwards.
In addition, make sure to minimize the number of stimuli reaching the patient. Eating with the TV or radio on or in noisy situations is not the best idea. A distracted person is less careful and it is easier to choke in such a situation.
While eating
Remember to keep the portions on the spoon small. Before giving the sick person another bite, make sure they swallow the previous one. Be patient – eating quickly is conducive to choking. Forbearance is also necessary, because when a sick person sees irritation, he himself begins to get nervous and tries to eat faster, and this can be dangerous for him.
After meal
After eating, the patient should remain seated for at least half an hour to prevent the gastric contents from flowing back into the esophagus. During this time, watch for disturbing symptoms – for example, coughing. After eating, it is worth carrying out oral hygiene, thanks to which we will minimize the amount of bacteria accumulated on the mucous membranes. If you are unable to do it yourself, you should of course be helped.
Find out more about nutrition for people with swallowing difficulties at www.nutilis.pl
Nutilis Clear is a dietary food for special medical purposes. For the dietary management of dysphagia. Use under medical supervision.
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