Aging-Related Changes in Swallowing Symptoms Example | Topics and Well Written Essays

Aging-Related Changes in Swallowing - Essay Example

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"Aging-Related Changes in Swallowing" is a perfect example of a paper on symptoms. Dysphasia is a medical term used to refer to swallowing difficulties, which increases with age. Swallowing refers to normal functioning, as well as coordination of the nerves, brain, teeth, salivary glands, and muscles. Thus, any condition that affects the coordination and functioning of any of these parts results in swallowing problems. Dysphasia is common among older people and occurs as a result of aging-related changes in primary, secondary, and tertiary aging.

According to Robbins, Bridges, and Taylor (2006), changes in nerves and muscles due to primary aging hamper the strength and coordination of muscles resulting in swallowing difficulties. Neural control, which includes both motor and sensory functions plays a significant role in swallowing. The sensory function is essential in providing information about the location of the bolus and preventing aspiration while the motor function is essential in providing pressure formation necessary for propulsion of bolus during swallowing (Robbins, Bridges and Taylor, 2006). However, primary aging causes changes that affect sensory and motor functioning; hence, causing oropharyngeal dysphasia in older people.

Secondary aging, which occurs as a result of environmental or extrinsic factors such as illness, causes swallowing problems. Illness is a common feature in older people, which affects body functions. Healthy people depend on a well-coordinated neuromuscular sensorimotor function, which coordinates the process of chewing, swallowing, and airway protection (Robbins, Bridges and Taylor, 2006). Thus, a deficit in the function of these parts due to illness such as arthritis, dementia and, the progressive neuromuscular disorder is likely to cause swallowing problems in older people.

On the other hand, tertiary aging is associated with a rise in cognitive and physical deterioration in the months just before death. This causes eating and swallowing problems due to depression and can lead to malnutrition. The intervention involves both compensatory and rehabilitative approaches. The rehabilitative interventions help to improve the dysphasia at a biological point, which targets the muscle and neural functions. Compensatory interventions are the best for older people and help to reduce or avoid the effects of the impaired structures such as modifying the environment, texture of food that can help in biomechanics on bolus flow (Robbins, Bridges, and Taylor (2006).