There are many types of issues that can affect your ability to swallow or speak properly. A few of the more common ones are vocal cord nodules, dysphonia, and neurologic dysphagia.
Vocal cord nodules are small growths on the vocal cords. They’re most often caused by overuse of your voice, but they can also be due to allergies or acid reflux. Vocal cord nodules make it difficult to talk because they make the cords swell up and bump against each other.
Dysphonia is a voice disorder that is usually caused by trauma to the throat region or muscle spasms in the larynx region.
What Are the Causes of Throat and Swallowing Problems?
If you have issues with swallowing or swallowing saliva, it’s important to find out what is causing it.
For instance, a lot of people who struggle with eating disorders also struggle with swallowing. A lot of problems are linked to food intolerances too.
For many patients, swallowing issues are temporary and minimal treatment is required, such as using a Simply Thick thickening packet to thicken liquids and make them easier to swallow while they are in recovery.
Common Foods That Aggravate Throat and Swallowing Issues
Many different foods can aggravate your throat and ability to swallow, but there are some that seem to be the most common culprits in fussy eaters and those who have problems swallowing.
If you suspect that a particular food may be the cause of your troubles, one way to check for it is to get an elimination diet.
Some of the most common foods that cause issues for patients include:
Tomato-based products
Tomato-based products that are acidic can stain the throat, glossing over the area where the food may be stuck and making it more difficult to swallow.
It’s best to limit your intake of tomato-based products, but if you do eat them, try to eat them with a lot of liquid so they don’t leave your throat stained.
Acidic foods
Try to avoid very acidic foods as well: bacteria prefer a low acid environment and are more likely to cause problems with your swallowing.
Eat smaller portions at first and have plenty of liquids to help soften the food in your mouth so you can swallow it easier.
Citrus fruits
Oranges, especially grapefruits, cause issues with the throat and swallowing because they are acidic. The acids can cause your throat tissue to swell and stick to each other.
Acidic foods may also cause a burning sensation in your throat, which can be very uncomfortable – if you’re having these issues, try to limit citrus fruits as much as possible.
Alcoholic beverages
Drinks containing alcohol and caffeinated beverages can irritate your throat, causing some of the worst throat discomforts.
It’s best to limit or avoid drinking while eating because it makes swallowing harder.
What You Can Do
If you suspect that a particular food is the cause of your throat issues, eliminate it from your diet and see if your condition improves. Then gradually add it back into your meals to see if there is any reaction.
If it causes problems in any way, there’s a good chance that you may have an allergy or intolerance to that particular food.
