What is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia is a medical term for difficulty swallowing — meaning it takes more time and effort to initiate and complete a swallow. Difficulty swallowing sometimes occurs after eating too quickly or not chewing food thoroughly. Dysphagia can make it difficult to stay adequately nourished or hydrated and may also signal a more serious underlying condition, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
Other risks associated with dysphagia include increased risk for lung infections, breathing difficulties, and pneumonia.