Have you felt "they've been choking more lately"?
- They often choke when drinking tea.
- Meals have started taking longer.
Have you noticed changes like these?
As people age, the body's swallowing functions gradually change, and food and drink can become harder to swallow.
Why swallowing becomes harder with age
Swallowing uses the muscles of the tongue and throat.
With age, these muscles gradually weaken, and the ability to swallow can decline.
A mouth that dries out more easily, or changes in teeth or dentures, can also contribute to difficulty swallowing.
Families can notice changes
For example:
- Meals take a long time
- Choking on water or tea
- Swallowing several times
- Eating less
- Losing weight
Changes like these are easier to notice precisely because family spend every day together.
Tips you can try from today
If swallowing seems difficult, first of all, don't rush meals.
Keep each mouthful small, and move on to the next only after checking the last one has been swallowed.
Eating with a well-adjusted posture can also help make swallowing easier.
Don't change meals on your own judgement alone
- Because they choke.
Chopping food finely or making drinks much thicker for this reason alone isn't necessarily good.
Food that's easy to swallow differs depending on the person's condition.
If you're concerned, consult your family doctor, a dentist or a speech-language-hearing therapist.
Consult someone early in cases like these
- Choking at every meal
- Eating less
- Losing weight
- Repeated fever or coughing
If changes like these continue, we recommend consulting a medical institution early.
Summary
As people age, changes in muscle strength and in the mouth can make swallowing harder.
Rather than thinking "it can't be helped at this age", it's important to notice small daily changes.
When families notice early and consult professionals as needed, it helps the person keep eating with peace of mind.
Difficulty swallowing can be caused not only by age but also by illness. If worrying changes continue, consult a professional early.
Feel free to ask us on LINEReferences and sources: Japan Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, "Swallowing" (in Japanese)
