Giving a brief idea about what is Dysphagia, in this condition the patient faces issues while swallowing and eating food. There are around about 13 million dysphagia patients in the United States of America. In most cases, due to complications, some patients suffer from pneumonia. Now, what is thick water it is very similar to normal water but there is some difference in its thickness level. A lot of medical practitioners are prescribing it to dysphagia patients.
Is Thick Water Helpful For Elderly Patients And Why We Think So?
The normal practice among doctors for elderly patients suffering from dysphagia is making changes in the oral intake of patients using thick water. If we consider the water that has low viscosity, it directly flows from our mouth into our airways. The speed at which it travels is too quick for the patients which can lead to further complications for patients. Thick water on the other hand has been found to be very slow in movement and easy to gulp. Thus providing more time for our airway passage which reduces the risk for dysphagia patients. Some studies have been carried out on the basis of videofluoroscopy findings. Whose result showed that thickened liquids have shown noteworthy results based on videofluoroscopy.
Though these tests were conducted on a very smaller base of the crowd, due to which they become very popular among the medical practitioners and wide prescribed by them.
The Myth About Thickened Water:
A backdated proof or evidence from the year 1994, when they have done a comparison of effectiveness among the stroke patients who followed a proper swallowing technique and avoided drinking thick water, it was found that there was no surge in the risk of dehydration, pneumonia, or any kind death was noted when their comparison was done with a patient who consumed thicked water. In recent findings to it has been found out that patients who were given thicked water had found to be having a high rate of hydration.
When Can Thick Water Be Useful For Patient
Elderly patients who are suffering from extreme choking while gulping down the water, in this case, we can tell them to discontinue drinking normal water. Just to avoid the pain of coughing. Also, it is a life and death issue case and the cough is bothering the patient in these cases thickened liquids can be taken for getting immediate comfort. Also if we take a modified diet along with thickened liquid during a grueling training session along with pathologists were give attention to the swallowing technique for a period of seven days only has shown good result for a patient suffering from pneumonia. The Point which is to be noted here is that we need to do this for only a period of one week not more than that.
Victims Of Overuse Of Thick Water
Nowadays it has become a clinical practice to give thickened water to an admitted patient who suffers from dysphagia. Gallon and gallons of thick water are stored in the hospital as an alternative to normal water. Though the are some natural options available which we use in our day-to-day life that has been sidelined altogether. If we drink water under the proper guidance of caretakers, medical practitioners we can easily avoid a lot of complications.
Such a euphoria has been created about thick water that it seems to be a magical potion that would instantly relieve us of the main which is nothing but a myth.
What Needs To Done Now To Improve This Situation?
Even if we make a lot of awareness among the patient and their family about the benefits of drinking water at regular intervals using proper postures would make a world of difference to the patients and their families. Gulping water in small quantity, avoid drinking water while we having our food. Keep a gap of 30-45 min after having food then only drink water in a sizeable amount. Also, do not stand and drink water this not recommended, people belonging to this religion do not drink water in a standing position. They have been following that tradition for a while now. People of other religions to follow this has been traditionally followed by them. But today’s youth do not follow these kinds of things. These small things make a big difference in the end. If anything which is beneficial for your body there is no harm in following that thing. The speech therapist would advise for some posture of the chin which might be beneficial.
Conclusion:
Half of the problems would be solved if more awareness his made about this. If they follow simple things and discipline the life of elderly patients and their families might improve. Do not forget to take the guidance of your doctors and your therapist.
