Summer often inspires a renewed focus on health, from spending time in the sunshine to boost mental wellness to improving eating habits and hydration. However, when you live with dysphagia, even simple steps like drinking more fluids can feel incredibly challenging.
While you should be prepared for a longer journey, with the right approach you can make steady progress towards personal targets in a way that feels safe and manageable. All it takes is adapting standard health plans to your needs.
What is dysphagia?
Dysphagia is defined as swallowing problems by the NHS and affects people in different ways. Some struggle with swallowing foods with certain textures, while others cannot swallow at all and therefore find both eating and drinking difficult. Symptoms include coughing or choking, a feeling that food is stuck in the throat or chest and regurgitation after swallowing.
The risk of choking can make mealtimes dangerous as well as unpleasant. Working with a therapist could help you design a safe plan for implementing new health goals and developing strategies for dealing with your condition long-term.
- Optimising nutrition
Difficulty swallowing and an aversion to certain textures can make it hard to eat a diverse diet of nutrient-dense foods which is essential for physical wellness. Dysphagia can also make you feel full quickly or put you off meals altogether, which makes eating enough calories a demanding task.
Small portions of soft, calorie-dense foods are a great way to improve your diet without exacerbating your symptoms. Think full-fat yoghurt, mashed avocado and scrambled eggs, followed by fruit smoothies. If you’re on a texture-modified diet, consider Puréed meals for comprehensive nutrition in an easily tolerated form.
Hydration is just as important as solid nutrition. You can get a thickener for your drinks to help you take in enough water if plain fluids are unpalatable.
- Incorporating safe exercise
Exercise improves circulation, supports digestion and boosts mood — all of which can benefit people with dysphagia. But you may need to make adjustments according to your energy levels and physical comfort. For example, walking after a meal can help aid digestion, but leave a break between eating and moving to reduce the risk of reflux.
Choosing low-impact activities like seated exercises, yoga or stretching is a great way to begin your fitness journey. If you’ve lost weight or muscle tone due to reduced food intake, gentle strength-building can support mobility and confidence. Listen to your body and don’t push through fatigue.
- Addressing mental health
Living with dysphagia can feel isolating. Eating in public and social meals can be stressful and you may worry about people misunderstanding your condition, making you avoid shared activities. Separating yourself from friends and family in this way can lead to low mood or anxiety.
Talk to those close to you about how dysphagia affects your day-to-day life, helping them understand what support you need. Connecting with others who live with the condition can help you feel less alone.
Mental health professionals can also help you manage feelings of frustration or grief over the changes to your lifestyle. If eating is source of anxiety, ask your GP about referral options for psychological support alongside their care.
