Improving Quality of Life among Stroke Patients with Dysphagia: A Case Report
Journal Title: Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) - Year 2017, Vol 1, Issue 3
Abstract
Dysphagia is a disorder that includes any dysfunction from chewing in the mouth to the passage of the bolus into the oesophagus [1]. In the United States, 50%-75% of nursing home residents are estimated as having dysphagia [2]. Dysphagia increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia by up to sevenfold [3] and leads high mortality rates of up to 40% [1]. The most common treatment for patients with dysphagia is the introduction of feeding tubes to prevent aspiration pneumonia [4]. Hence, this paper illustrates the interventions and treatments for stroke patients with dysphagia and the problems encountered by them.Studies have revealed that patients with neurological diseases such as stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease exhibit a high risk of dysphagia [3]. Swallowing problems occur in 55% of the patients with stroke and 33% of the patients with dementia; 46% of the patients with swallowing problems exhibit weight loss and poor appetite [5]. Moreover, because of the aging process, older adults can easily develop feeding problems. Oesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia cause discomfort when eating, and changes in smell affect the taste, further decreasing patients’ appetites. In addition, poorly fitted dentures and the loss of dentition cause chewing problems and reduce suitable food choices of food [6]. Moreover, there are approximately 50%–75% of nursing home residents have dysphagia in the United States [1], and 60%- 80% of them also have a diagnosis of dementia [6]. In addition, polypharmacy is very common among older adults, which can also cause dysphagia and reduced interest in eating; for example, sedation suppresses the cough reflex [3]. Among the patients with dysphagia, 50% experience aspiration pneumonia. In residential homes, aspiration pneumonia causes the highest mortality rate of up to 40% because of both dysphagia and ineffective cough reflex [1]. Older adults with dementia may retain the eating functions but forget the voluntary steps involved in chewing and swallowing. Patients with stroke or other neurological diseases may exhibit some dysfunction in the complex swallowing process, which involves the coordination of more than 40 muscles and numerous cranial nerves in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and brain stem; such dysfunctions can result in dysphagia [1].
Authors and Affiliations
Yuet - Ying WONG
Keywords
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- EP ID EP572648
- DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2017.01.000307
- Views 149
- Downloads 0
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