for June 2007: What is dysphagia and is it common in EMS?
Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing. (It is often associated with esophagus problems.) It was a fairly prominent symptom among those who got EMS during the first years of the disease. It has continued to be a troublesome symptom for many others in the chronic phase of EMS – or, it has occurred for the first time. In a study that was published in 1995 citing head and neck manifestations of EMS (about 28 different ones were included) dysphagia was found to be present in approximately 56% of respondents to a detailed questionnaire. Although that was not as high a figure as muscle spasms, dry mouth, and one or two other problems, 56% is nothing to sneeze at.
