#CHOKING AFTER EFFECTS HOW TO#

You can ask for another assessment if you think your swallowing has changed. It’s inserted into one of your nostrils and down your throat, so that your therapist can see how well your muscles are working and where the problems may be occurring. An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light and a tiny camera at the end of it. A fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) uses an endoscope to find out what’s happening when you swallow.These will be mixed with a special liquid called barium that will show up on the X-rays. You will sit beside an x-ray machine and be given different foods and drinks to swallow. A videofluoroscopy involves taking a video X-ray of your mouth and throat while you swallow.Your therapist will usually begin by asking you to swallow a very small amount of water, followed by food and drinks of different consistencies, to show whether you can swallow them safely.You’ll probably have a number of swallowing assessments while you’re in the hospital, to check how your swallowing improves over time. If your swallowing problems are long-term, with good care and support, you can have a good diet and enjoy your food and drink. The way you eat may change over time as you go through your recovery, and you might be able to go back to eating more of the foods you are used to. Some people make a good recovery from swallowing problems. They’ll also make sure that the rest of your stroke team are clear about what you can and can’t eat, and how you should be eating. Your speech and language therapist will explain to you and your family exactly what foods are safe for you to eat. You may also find small portions are easier to manage, or that eating earlier in the day when you have more energy, works better. So your therapist may suggest that you stick to cold foods, or allow hot food to cool down quite a bit before you try to eat it.Įating small amounts throughout the day, rather than three big meals, for example, may be better for you if you’re finding it hard to concentrate or you get tired very quickly. Hot foods and drinks can be difficult to swallow because you can’t hold them in your mouth for long.

A speech and language therapist can advise you on the right texture. There are different categories of food softness, from soft and bite-sized through to liquidised.

If you have problems with chewing and swallowing, you may need to eat soft food.

#CHOKING AFTER EFFECTS HOW TO#

Your therapist may be able to suggest how to make some regular drinks to the right consistency, such as smoothies or milkshakes. Making sure the drink is freshly prepared and not thicker than it needs to be could make it more pleasant to drink. To make thicker liquids more enjoyable to drink, you might be able to try chilled or flavoured drinks. These can be made using special powders to create the right level of thickness. Your therapist might assess you and recommend using thickened drinks to help you drink safely. Water and other thin liquids are the hardest things to swallow because they’re difficult to control. It’s important to drink enough, because your body needs to stay hydrated to fight off infections and help you recover from a stroke. If you can’t swallow safely, then you’ll probably need to make changes to your diet with advice from a speech and language therapist. Find out more about the Stroke Association See all.Find out more ways to get involved See all.Find out more about the support we offer See all.Take only small sips of liquid to minimize splashing into the airway.Turn your head to one side to provide better airway protection.To help compensate for lost function, the plan may also call for you to: The speech-language pathologist develops a treatment plan to meet your specific needs, which includes exercises to improve coordination of muscle movements in the mouth and throat. So if it’s not safe for you to swallow, a feeding tube may be suggested to help meet your nutritional needs. The speech-language pathologist will determine when it’s safe to eat more normal foods.Īdequate nutrition is essential. That’s because some foods are hard to chew and thin liquids are often hard to swallow. The speech-language pathologist may recommend you change what you eat and drink. If you have a problem with swallowing safely, you may not be allowed to eat until a speech-language pathologist evaluates how well: While in the hospital after a stroke, you are screened to determine your ability to swallow safely. In this case, you may not know you’re aspirating (silent aspiration). Normally, aspiration causes a violent cough, but a stroke can reduce sensation.

It occurs when something you’ve swallowed enters the airway and lungs. If not identified and managed, it can lead to poor nutrition, pneumonia and disability.Īspiration is a common problem for people with dysphagia. Your stroke may cause a swallowing disorder called dysphagia.

Choking after effects