Help with dysphagia

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People suffering from what’s called “dysphagia” have difficulty swallowing and may experience pain while eating or drinking. Patients with Parkinson’s disease often have dysphagia and that can lead to substances getting caught in their airways, causing infections and potentially death. Now a new University of Florida study shows Parkinson’s patients can improve their swallowing with training. Researchers say exhaling in this simple device can strengthen the muscles in your throat, which leads to improved swallowing.

Dr. Michelle Troche/UF speech language pathologist: “We found that people who had a degenerative swallowing problem were able to improve their swallowing with this device. Not just give them a crutch, not just a compensation, but actually fix a portion of the problem and make them safer swallowers.“