SMA can cause weakness in swallowing muscles. This affects how easily food moves through the digestive system. For some, eating difficulties can mean they do not get enough food and become underweight. For others, muscle weakness makes it difficult to exercise and they become overweight. Extra weight can increase the stress on muscles, bones and joints. It makes physical activity and breathing even more difficult.

These difficulties are more common for people who are ‘non-sitters’ or ‘sitters’

but not so common for ‘walkers’. They don’t all happen to everyone. As always with SMA, everyone is different .

Due to weak muscles , people can:

• have problems with reflux. This can feel like an uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest or throat
• be sick after eating
• have difficulty going for a poo (become constipated). Constipation can lead to feeling uncomfortable and a fullness in the stomach that reduces the movement of the diaphragm. This is the dome-shaped muscle below the lungs. It is important for breathing in. This can make it more difficult to breathe and cough
• have problems with their ability to break down foods to produce energy (their metabolism). They may have high or low blood sugar and / or problems with breaking down fat.
• have difficulty swallowing safely. If you do, this can feel frightening. It may mean you are at risk of ‘breathing in’ food or drink (aspiration). This can make you choke and possibly cause a chest infection.