Dysphagia and Thickened Liquids

Ensuring that individuals are meeting their nutritional and dietary needs is so important to maintain good health, especially for those with certain health conditions. If you’ve browsed our new Liquid Nutrition collection, you’ve likely seen some products categorized as thickened liquids or a thickening agent. These types of nutritional products are designed for conditions like dysphagia. 

What is Dysphagia? 

Dysphagia is essentially a term to describe conditions that make it difficult to swallow. It can present differently between people; with some having issues swallowing certain liquids and/or foods, and with others being unable to swallow at all.

There are a number of health conditions that can cause dysphagia, such as a stroke, head injury or dementia, just to name a few.

Symptoms of Dysphagia

How do you know if yourself or a loved one is suffering from dysphagia? Well there are several symptoms to watch out for. 

Some of the most common symptoms are pain while swallowing or the inability to swallow, which often results in choking and coughing. Drooling, bringing food back up, weight loss  and frequent heartburn are also symptoms of dysphagia.

It’s important to bring this issue up to a doctor or healthcare professional if you (or your loved one) are consistently experiencing any of these symptoms.  Weight Loss and malnutrition can be very serious symptoms of dysphagia.

Talk to your healthcare professional if any combination of these symptoms are accompanying your dysphagia. 

Information Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dysphagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20372028

How do Thickened Liquids Help?

In simple terms, thickened liquids are easier for those with dysphagia to swallow. This is because thickened liquids have a slower flow rate for swallowing, which allows an individual more time for their airway to close before swallowing. This change in flow rate can reduce the risk of choking or aspiration caused by dysphagia.

There are a few different options for products that can be thickened. You can purchase products like Thick It, which are everyday beverages that come pre thickened and can be consumed right away. Or if you’d prefer, you can purchase a thickening agent or powder to add to your desired beverage.

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