Managing eating problems after a stroke

Why is it important to carefully manage eating problems?

People who have trouble eating and swallowing after a stroke are at risk for:

• Not eating enough, which can lead to malnutrition. Lack of proper nutrition can delay recovery and cause other problems, such as losing too much weight.
• Not drinking enough liquids. Being dehydrated over a long period of time can cause health problems, and severe dehydration can be life-threatening.
• Breathing in food or liquids (aspiration). This can lead to infection of the lungs. Although many people who have had a stroke cough or choke when they breathe something into their airway, nearly half may not know that they have breathed something into their lungs.¹

Test Your Knowledge

1. A person who breathes food or liquid into the airway or lungs always coughs or chokes.

1. True
2. False

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: July 6, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Richard D. Zorowitz, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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