Difficulty Swallowing and Parkinson’s:
Difficulty swallowing (called dysphagia) can occur at any stage of Parkinson’s disease. Signs and symptoms include difficulty swallowing certain foods or liquids, coughing or throat clearing during or after eating/drinking, and feeling as if food is getting stuck. As the disease progresses, swallowing can become increasingly compromised and food/liquid can enter the lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia is the leading cause of death in Parkinson’s. It is