Seniors
Related: About this forumDo people here have more "mixing tubes" episodes - food getting into the windpipe?
Including saliva?
I wonder whether this is part of aging.
sinkingfeeling
(52,985 posts)an EDG (esophagogastroduodenoscopy).
question everything
(48,797 posts)FarPoint
(13,617 posts)It's not part of aging...
Lefta Dissenter
(6,656 posts)My dads doctor was talking about this just today. She said it takes 38 muscles all cooperating to swallow properly. As you begin to swallow, the glottis is supposed to protect your airway. As we age, the glottis reaction time can slow down. Therefore, she recommends tucking the chin down when swallowing, which makes food/liquid take a bit longer to get as far as the glottis, giving it more time to close over and do its job.
Please dont take this as an anatomy lesson, since I cant swear by my correct recollection of the details, but you could try tucking your chin down, to see if that helps.
Consider going to a swallow clinic, if you can. They can watch what is going on when you swallow and make recommendations.
question everything
(48,797 posts)question everything
(48,797 posts)Keeping the airway open as the cartilage is aging.
Easterncedar
(3,519 posts)You may have something more involved going on, but exercises given by a Speech and Language Therapist really helped my guy when he developed weakness in swallowing, which led to choking.
vanamonde
(192 posts)I just turned 70 and it seems to happen more often as the years go by.