Parkinson’s Disease Overview

Issues With Swallowing

Issues with swallowing are often called dysphagia. They can occur at any point during the progression of Parkinson's disease. Patients may have trouble swallowing certain liquids or foods or always clear their throats or cough after they eat or drink. They may also feel like food is becoming stuck in their throats. As Parkinson's disease progresses, these symptoms may become more severe and pronounced. One of the dangers is that food or liquid will go down the airway and become lodged in the lungs. This leads to aspiration pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death for individuals with Parkinson's disease.