As we age, there are many aspects of our health that must be attended to more closely than other. For some aging adults, the complications involving neurological degeneration can pose health risks and create secondary psychological factors, especially when not addressed promptly and efficiently.
With the elderly population, especially among those with neurological impairments, a common health complication develops with age, known as sialorrhea. Medically described as an uncontrollable drooling associated with an over production of saliva, sialorrhea is most common in the aging adult who has experienced a complication involving the facial muscle and nerve involvement, such as that found in a stroke patient.
Among the elderly population who suffer with sialorrhea, the complication is generally confirmed in diagnosis following the development of a health complication, such as a stroke or the development of Bell’s palsy. With excessive saliva, the secondary complications of sialorrhea may include chapping of the lips and the associated area outside of the mouth, resulting in infections of the mouth and a foul odor or extremely bad breath.
For many of the elderly, especially those who are engaged in social activities, there is some embarrassment associated with sialorrhea. As a result, when this neurological complication is not well controlled, the excessive saliva production can lead to secondary psychological complications including depression, anxiety and even make one feel as if they should be isolated from the view of others.
If you, or someone you love, suffers from excessive saliva production, there are some medical considerations to be made. First, you may want to consider speech or occupational therapy as a way in which to improve your facial muscle strength and function. In addition to speech and occupational therapy, a visit with a dentist or orthodontist may provide some insight into corrections with malocclusion that can be considered as part of your care. For many seniors, the use of orthodontic appliances is quite effective at alleviating the complications of sialorrhea, although they can be quite uncomfortable.
In some senior adults, the physician may recommend the use of prescription medications designed to slow the impact and production of the salivary glands. However, with a significant number of side effects, these prescriptions medications are becoming less popular among healthcare professionals although may of the elderly population continue to use them.
As with any complication that develops following an illness or disease related event, it is important to seek medical attention early when the complication begins. While some excessive saliva production is common with age, as the facial muscles and nerves begin to degenerate, if that production of excessive saliva continues, there may be complications involving infection and skin irritation. Seeking medical attention, your physician can make the diagnosis of sialorrhea, if appropriate, and establish a team care approach in determining what course of treatment is best for your condition as you age, providing a variety of options to alleviate the symptoms of sialorrhea.
