COPD and swallowing - Lung Foundation

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Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient GuideBetter Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide is a joint project of theStatewide COPD Respiratory Network, Clinical Practice Improvement Centre, Queensland Health andThe Australian Lung Foundation, COPD National Program.This work is copyright and copyright ownership is shared between the State of Queensland (Queensland Health)and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study, education orclinical purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. It may not be reproducedfor commercial use or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires writtenpermission from both Queensland Health and The Australian Lung Foundation.© The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 2012.For further information contact Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network, Patient Safety and Quality ImprovementService, e-mail: PSQ@health.qld.gov.au or phone: (07) 36369505 and The Australian Lung Foundation,e-mail: enquiries@lungfoundation.com.au or phone: 1800 654 301. For permissions beyond the scope ofthis licence contact: Intellectual Property Offi cer, Queensland Health, email: ip_offi cer@health.qld.gov.auor phone (07) 3234 1479.To order resources or to provide feedback please email: enquiries@lungfoundation.com.au orphone 1800 654 301.Queensland Health Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network and The Australian Lung Foundation, COPDNational Program – Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guide, 2012.ISBN 978-0-9872272-0-1bChapter 5: Your role in managing your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Better Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease A Patient Guidechapter16Chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease and swallowingThis chapter will help you to understand:How swallowing and breathing are related.How breathing and swallowing are affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).What the consequences of swallowing problems are.How you can tell if you are experiencing swallowing problems.How a speech pathologist can help you with swallowing problems.What strategies you can use to help manage swallowing problems.How are swallowing andbreathing related?Swallowing is a highly complex process involvingthe coordination of more than 26 muscles and sixnerves. For this process to occur smoothly, the bodymust also co-ordinate the breathing cycle during theswallow. Swallowing interrupts breathing. At theexact moment you swallow, you must momentarilyhold your breath to close the airway. Closing theairway prevents any food or fl uid from entering thelungs. The normal swallow–breathing cycle (shownin steps 1 to 4 in the following diagram) should onlytake a few seconds to complete.4. Return tonormalbreathing1. Before the swallow,breathe in and hold breath2. During the swallow, theairways remains closedfor about one second(to prevent food or fluidgetting into the lungs)3. After the swallow, breathe out to clearany remaining food or fluid from the throatHow are breathing and swallowingaffected by COPD?How does COPD affect your breathing?Details of how COPD can affect your breathing areprovided in other sections of this Patient Guide (seechapter 12 ‘Breathlessness, breathing control andenergy conservation’ on pages 52 to 57). Basically,COPD can cause you to breathe faster, which meansthat your breathing muscles can become tired andweak. Your coughing refl ex can also become weak.As breathing and swallowing are related, a weakcough refl ex can cause problems with swallowing.How does COPD affect your swallowing?Swallowing and breathing are related. Many peoplewith breathing problems also experience diffi cultyco-ordinating breathing and swallowing while eatingand drinking.During mealtimes, you may use the swallow–breathing cycle more than 100 times. People whohave COPD often become short of breath duringmealtimes because of the breath-holding that occursduring the swallowing–breathing cycle. The moreshort of breath you become, the more likely youwill fi nd it diffi cult to co-ordinate your breathingand swallowing.©The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) and The Australian Lung Foundation 201268
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COPD and swallowing - Lung Foundation

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