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Creating awareness for Olivopontocerebellar atrophy and other ataxias!
Symptom - Aspiration
Actually, everyone aspirates not only those with OPCA. To aspirate means "to draw (something) into the lungs; inhale". Why is it a concern to patients suffering from a cerebellar disorder (OPCA, etc)? Because sufferers of this disease have abnormal swallowing reflexes which affets mainly the epoglottis. When one swallows, the epiglottis pivots to cover the glottis (the opening to the trachea or windpipe), preventing food or liquids from entering the lungs. Because of the lack of epoglottis reflex in patients there is more of chance that substances (other than air) can go and sit in the lung(s) causing aspiraion pnemonia because the body cannot get rid of the substance.
To add to this complication, if we aspirate it is often on liquid and saliva at the beginning. Towards the end of the disease, patients begin to choke on solid foods and sometimes a feeding tube is needed to avoid swallowing all togeter. A person not having the movement disorders has the ability of activeness which will help the evaporation process within the lungs. Ataxia patients are less active and therefore the lungs are unable to evaporate the liquid on the lungs. The fluid and food particles in the lungs leads to Aspiration Pneumonia.
Aspiration Pneumonia is the number one complication of OPCA related diseases.
Please note: We are not Doctors. This site was not written or approved by any Doctor, neurologist, or licensed health care professional. The information contained in these pages is pulled from internet websites and personal experience. Please consult with a registered health care professional to confirm the accuracy of what you read on these pages.
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