What is in our Vitamins? Featuring Avenleigh (5 yo)
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Avenleigh wants to know what is in our vitamins and why do we take them, so she asks the pharmacist!
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Episode 117 - Voice Troubles
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Laryngitis, known as inflammation of the larynx, is the most common cause of hoarseness and voice loss. It is very common in viral infections, such as a cold, flu, or adenovirus. Acute laryngitis is caused by an illness, while chronic laryngitis may be a secondary symptom of another problem.
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Episode 116 - Voice
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Notes coming soon!
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Episode 115 - Gag Reflex
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
The gag reflex, as well as other pharyngeal reflexes, protect you from choking and ingesting improper things. If it does not follow the proper swallowing procedure, rarely does it get permission to enter.
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Episode 114 - Bad Breath
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Halitosis, aka bad breath, can have many causes. Some bad breath you can prevent with the choices you make, but some bad breath can be a sign of a more serious issue or disease.
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Episode 113 - Dysphagia
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
While dysphagia can be very uncomfortable and lead to some unwanted side effects, the biggest concern is with the risk of aspiration, or breathing food or drink into the lungs, that leads to pneumonia.
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Episode 112 - Swallowing
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
You never think to swallow until you start talking about swallowing. The voluntary swallowing process must be initiated before the involuntary swallowing reflexes take over. This includes when you go to the dentist and while you are sleeping!
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Episode 111 - Tonsillectomy
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
The what, why, and how of a tonsillectomy. While a tonsillectomy is a frequent surgery for kids and adults, it is still surgery and requires preparation and care before during and after.
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Episode 110 - Tonsils
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Your tonsils are in the back of your throat. You can see them, you can feel them. They help protect you but can be a big pain while they do it.
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Episode 109 - Metallic Taste
The Pharmacist Answers Podcast
Over 250 medications can causes changes in taste. A metallic taste is the most common. Some are secreted in the saliva, others disrupt receptors or signals.
info_outlineThe 3 Phases of Swallowing
Oral Phase
This phase includes chewing and saliva mixing with the food to form a bolus (a little glob of mashed up food). Then the tongue moves the bolus towards the back of the mouth. The tongue starts by pressing against the hard palate behind the front teeth. Then the sides of the tongue raise up to also press against the hard palate inside the teeth. At this point, the bolus has nowhere to go except towards the back of the throat.
Pharyngeal Phase
The vocal folds in the larynx close to keep food out. The larynx also moves up as the epiglottis covers it to seal off the airway. Then the soft palate and uvula move up and close off the nasal passage So now there is only one way out.
Esophageal Phase
The bolus moves into the esophagus (because it is the only open path). The esophageal muscles contract from top to bottom (this waving, rhythmic muscle movement is called peristalsis) to push the bolus into the stomach.
Swallowing Reflex
There are sensory receptors in the pharynx and tongue that receive touch signals. When they are touched by a bolus, the signals are sent to the brain stem and the return signal results in involuntary and automatic movements of the larynx and epiglottis. This is a good thing since swallowing is a very rhythmic process and you want food and drink to continue going in the correct direction.
This reflex cannot be triggered by sticking your finger in your throat. You are more likely to trigger a gag reflex that way. The voluntary steps of swallowing must be initiated before the involuntary portion of the process takes over.
Weird Swallowing Scenarios
How do you swallow with your mouth open?
At the dentist, you are usually laying in the chair on your back and facing the ceiling. There are at least three tools and two hands in your mouth. Things in your mouth trigger saliva production. Also, generally one of the tools the dentist is using is emitting water. The natural reflex when you have to hold your mouth open for a long time is to bring the back of the tongue and the soft palate together. This seals off the throat and allows you to still breathe through your nose. The liquid in your mouth plus gravity creates a puddle at the seal of your tongue and soft palate. Because the touch sensors to trigger your swallowing reflex are also in this area, it is likely you begin to panic because if they don't hurry and use the suctioning straw to remove the liquid, you're going to swallow!
Do you swallow in your sleep?
A study was done to find that the only times you swallow while sleeping is during arousal and during REM. My logical deduction regarding why is that when you're aroused or in one of the more shallow phases of sleep, that is when you can voluntarily move - roll over, adjust the bedding, and swallow. During REM sleep, most people will experience sleep paralysis, so whatever exciting things are happening in their brain, the body is not likely to act it out. Because the brain cannot tell if a dream is real or imaginary, the feeling solicited can trigger hormones secretions and saliva production. Increased saliva, just like in the dentist scenario, can trigger swallowing.
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