Swallowing is something we all take for granted. We eat and drink with little thought as to how food and fluids pass from our mouth to our stomach. In fact, swallowing is one of the most complex actions we perform, but the entire process takes only 17-23 seconds to complete. The average person swallows approximately 600 times per day – about 350 times while awake, 200 times while eating, and around 50 times while asleep. It requires the coordination of 26 muscles in the mouth, plus the throat and esophagus.
Many diseases and injuries, such as stroke, brain injury, Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis and others, can affect the swallowing muscles. Weak swallowing muscles can allow food and drink to get into the lungs and cause chest infections like pneumonia. Common signs of swallowing problems include: coughing, choking, throat clearing, “wet, gurgly” voice during and after meals, and food left in the mouth. Sometimes there are no signs at all, until a chest infection occurs.
If you know someone who may have swallowing difficulties, have them assessed by a speech-language pathologist and dietitian. There are many things that can be done to maximize swallowing safety and enjoyment.