Chew and swallow gone awry in Wayne

Ever had your food "go down the wrong pipe"? A scary feeling most of us rarely experience, because waaay before we remember, as babies, we learned the mechanics of eating -- i.e. how to chew and swallow. The mechanics that a ) bring us great pleasure and satisfaction from food, and b) keep us well-fed, healthy and alive.

Imagine living in a near permanent state of food going down the wrong pipe. My coworker Suzanne wrote an article today about the Swallowing Center at St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital  where hundreds of patients who have swallowing problems seek treatment.  Some cannot swallow liquids, some need a feeding tube, and many have problems getting their food down to the stomach, not the lungs. Most of their swallowing problems stem from diseases like Alzheimer's and cerebral plasy, conditions like acid reflux or head injuries.

It's a very interesting read and will definitely make you appreciate your lunch a lot more.