Shared from myparkinsonsteam.com.
People living with Parkinson’s disease have a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia. This is due to the disease’s effects on motor coordination, which is associated with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties). Aspiration pneumonia happens when food or fluid gets into the lungs. If left untreated, this causes a pneumonia infection.
Pneumonia is more common in advanced Parkinson’s disease than in the early stage because swallowing becomes more challenging with time. According to a recent study from 2021, 80 percent of people with Parkinson’s disease have trouble swallowing. This symptom generally gets worse as the disease progresses.
Trouble swallowing makes it more likely that foods and beverages will go down the windpipe instead of the throat. This is called aspiration. Aspiration promotes lung inflammation and makes breathing more difficult. It’s also a big risk factor for aspiration pneumonia.