How to keep a hospital stay from going into overtime

There are many reasons why a stint in the hospital may go on for longer than expected.

But according to recent study out of New York University, a bout of dysphagia could extend your stay by around 40 percent.

Yikes!

Never heard of that condition? Well, dysphagia (pronounced dis-fay-ja) is actually quite serious. It isn’t contagious, but once it strikes, it can be hard to recover from.

It’s difficulty swallowing!

That’s right. We might never think about our trusty automatic swallowing reflex… until something goes wrong with it.

And while these researchers have uncovered one of the reasons why so many seniors suffer from problems swallowing, there’s another cause that’s a lot easier to eliminate!

A tough pill to swallow

Dysphagia is such a common — but serious — problem that there’s an entire journal devoted to it!

A study that appeared in the latest issue by NYU researchers found that for around 15 percent of those who suffer from the condition, the cause is related to a loss of muscle mass in the throat.

So, it appears that the muscles in the throat aren’t all that different from other parts of the body that can weaken as we age. Only, when dysphagia becomes apparent, it’s a lot more worrisome than not being able to lift that heavy box or bag (or grandchild!) as easily as you once did.

Trouble swallowing can lead to all sorts of health problems, including malnutrition, dehydration, and – frighteningly — pneumonia, due to foods and liquids ending up in your lungs instead of your stomach.

That’s why the NYU researchers called for more exercise programs for seniors that work on strengthening throat muscles (I’ll tell you more about that in a minute), just as you would do to make your arms or legs stronger.

First, however, although loss of muscle function in the throat can be a reason for dysphagia, it’s not the only one.

This past spring, I told you about the role drugs can play in throwing your throat out of whack. The problem even has a name of its own — drug-induced dysphagia! And it can be caused by any med that depresses the central nervous system, such as Valium, Xanax, Codeine, Demerol, and Fentanyl.

In addition, drugs that can injure your esophagus — such as Ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and even aspirin — or ones that can cause your mouth to dry out may also trigger problems swallowing.

Antihistamines and decongestants, which include popular brands such as Sudafed and Benadryl (which even has “dry” in its name!), can cause dry mouth, yet another familiar problem among seniors.

If your swallowing difficulties could be due to any of these medications, simply ditching them should solve your problem. (And if you’re in the hospital, not taking ones that aren’t absolutely necessary might also help speed up your discharge.)

Dysphagia can also be treated with throat exercises like:

• Sticking out the tip of your tongue and holding it between your teeth while swallowing your saliva. Make sure to hold your head up straight (not bending your neck back) when trying that. And if your mouth is dry, taking a drink or swishing and spitting beforehand will make it easier.
• Pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth as firmly as possible, then swallowing hard.
• Testing your soprano abilities by hitting a high note and holding it for a few seconds (think Frankie Valli!).

Also, many hospitals offer swallowing “rehab,” where a professional can get you started with strengthening exercises. And in the long run, that may help keep you out of the hospital — or at the very least, help you avoid staying in one any longer than necessary!

“Why seniors can struggle with swallowing” Robert Preidt, August 3, 2018, HealthDay, consumer.healthday.com