Multiple sclerosis (MS) can come with a wide range of symptoms. A common symptom that occurs in people with advanced MS is dysphagia: difficulty swallowing. Issues with swallowing occur when muscles in your mouth and throat don’t work together. This also makes it harder for you to chew. MS can damage the nerves that control those muscles, causing weakness and numbness.
Dysphagia affects about one-third of people with MS. This can have severe complications, like aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and airway obstruction. Other complications include feeling like food is stuck in your throat, throat clearing when eating or drinking, or experiencing a coughing or choking sensation when eating or drinking.
There are methods you can try, though, to help manage issues you’re having with swallowing.
Relax Yourself and Your Space
Try to maintain a relaxed eating atmosphere. Not being tensed or distracted can make swallowing easier. Keeping a quiet space can help you concentrate on your swallowing muscles. With MS, you may want to try eating in a room with:
- A quiet atmosphere
- Radio and TV turned off
- Minimal distracting conversation
Pay Attention to Your Eating
Another way to help manage difficulty swallowing is to focus on your eating.
Eat slowly. Take your time during your meal. When your swallowing process isn’t working correctly, each swallow takes time and coordination. You’ll need to think about the process of eating.
Chew thoroughly. Getting your food ready for swallowing means chewing more than normal. When you chew well, you’ll also mix the food with your saliva. This will help your food go down easier.
Drink between bites. Issues with swallowing make your food more likely to get stuck or move towards your stomach slower than usual. Alternating your liquids with solids can make sure your food stays moist and goes down well.
Know what foods get stuck easier. Some dry foods or quick-moving liquids, like water, can be harder to get down. You can either change the size of your bites, making them smaller and easier to swallow, or avoid certain foods.
A speech-language therapist can help you learn how to alter the way you eat.
Have Rest Periods During Meals
Resting during your meals in between bites gives your muscles the time to push your food down. If you keep eating, pressure can build up, making your muscles work harder. This, in turn, causes muscle weakness, making it harder for you to swallow.
