Many of the physiological processes otherwise taken for granted is affected to varying degrees with age. Swallowing is among one of these processes that can eventually be problematic or difficult for an older person. It may not affect every senior but difficulty with swallowing is among the more common age related problems. The medical term for any difficulty with swallowing is dysphagia. It should not be confused with another swallowing disorder which is known as odynophagia – painful swallowing.
In the elderly, swallowing problems greatly affects normal nutrition thereby leading to a host of complications which adversely affect one’s health. It should not be assumed that any difficulty swallowing with age is the norm – some of the causes can be very serious and even potentially fatal. In many cases with the elderly though, the difficulty is not actually with swallowing but proper chewing that ultimately causes swallowing problems. It is therefore imperative to differentiate with chewing and swallowing problems.
The appetite is controlled by several factors in the body. It is a complex interplay of hormones, signals from the gut and brain centers which also involves the sense of taste, smell and even sight. A healthy appetite is where a person desires food but is satisfied (satiety) once enough food is consumed to maintain the blood sugar levels and provide energy for a period of time thereafter. A common problem among seniors is a loss of appetite (anorexia). It is usually a gradual decline in the appetite and the development of poor eating habits but in some instances it can arise in the short term.
The term ‘tea and toast diet’ was coined to describe the poor dietary habits commonly seen in the elderly. The diet may not literally be restricted to only tea and toast but accurately describes the more popular choice of food and drink amongst the elderly of most cultural and geographical groups. What it does signify though is that the nutrition is poor and often insufficient to maintain health at a time in one’s life when the body is already facing many age and disease related obstacles.