Just imagine … gulp, cough, gulp, cough, cough …

Barbara Braithwaite, Safe Swallowing Team • November 4, 2022

We all swallow between 500-700 times a day, even around three times an hour during sleep, once per minute while awake and even more during meals and taking medication. Imagine the discomfort of coughing almost every time you swallow.

 

Around one million Australians have a swallowing difficulty. Our elderly loved ones and those with a disability swallow too, not only their meals and fluids but medications as well. They are at higher risk of a swallowing problem.

 

Working in Disability and Aged Care is both rewarding and challenging. Choking is amongst the top 3 causes of death in these precious populations. The more we know about swallowing safety, the more comfortable we feel in caring for them.


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