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MS and swallowing
MS can affect the nerves that control chewing and swallowing. Changes can come and go.
Awaiting clinical review. This page is written from general, widely accepted background on how eating and swallowing work. It has not yet been signed off by a named clinician, and it is not a substitute for asking one.
Why swallowing can change
MS affects messages between the brain and the body. That can include the muscles for chewing and swallowing.
Swallowing changes are fairly common in MS. They can be mild, and they can change over time.
What you might notice
- Coughing or choking when you eat or drink.
- Food that feels stuck in your throat.
- Chewing that tires you out.
- Swallowing that feels harder when you are tired, or later in the day.
- A wet or gurgly voice after drinking.
What can help
These are options people use. Weigh them against what matters to you.
- Eat your main meal when your energy is highest.
- Sit upright, and take your time.
- Smaller bites and sips.
- Swallowing therapy is one option. An SLP can show techniques and check whether they help.
- Changing textures helps some people. It can also change how much you enjoy food, so weigh both.
Questions to ask your care team
- Would a swallow test help me? What would it show?
- Could tiredness or a relapse be making swallowing harder?
- What options fit what I notice, and what are the trade-offs?
- Could any of my medicines affect my mouth or swallow?
When to get help
Get checked soon if you notice any of these. A doctor or SLP can look at what is going on.
You know your own body best. Bring what you notice to your care team, and decide together.
- Coughing or choking when you eat or drink.
- Food or pills that feel stuck.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Pneumonia or chest infections, especially if they come back.
When this is worth asking about
- Someone cannot breathe, speak or cough. Call 911.
- Coughing or choking at many meals.
- A sudden change in swallowing.
- Weight loss, or chest infections.