Dysphagia in the elderly.
Elderly patients are inherently predisposed to dysphagia predominately because of comorbid health conditions. With the aging of the population in the United States, along with the increased prevalence of obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease, healthcare providers will increasingly encounter older patients with either oropharyngeal or esophageal disease and complaints of dysphagia. Useful tests to evaluate dysphagia include the videofluoroscopic swallowing study and the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. Swallow rehabilitation is useful to help patients compensate for swallowing difficulty and ultimately help strengthen the neuromusculature involved in swallowing.
Dr Aslam is a research assistant professor and Dr Vaezi is a professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Muhammad
M
Aslam
Dr Aslam is a research assistant professor and Dr Vaezi is a professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Michael F
MF
Vaezi
Esophageal dysphagia; aging; fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing; oropharyngeal dysphagia; swallow function; videofluoroscopic swallowing study