The term “bolus” has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. The two common uses are outlined below.
Medical Context:
In medicine, a bolus refers to a concentrated dose or amount of medication or fluid that is administered rapidly into the body. It is often given as an injection or through an intravenous (IV) line to speed up the effect. For example, a bolus of medication may be given to quickly relieve pain or to increase blood pressure in an emergency situation.
Swallowing Context:
In the context of the swallowing process and digestion, a bolus refers to a mass of chewed food that is ready to be swallowed. When you eat, the food is broken down into smaller pieces through chewing, and is then mixed with saliva, to form a bolus. Once swallowed, the bolus travels down the oesophagus and into the stomach to continue the digestion process.
The way food is prepared in the kitchen to make it ready for eating has a large impact on the ease of preparing a bolus in the swallowing process. The IDDSI guidelines set out a framework that be specifying the size and texture of food it can help in preparing the bolus.
Food could be prepared in a form that is soft and bite sized, minced and moist or puréed depending on the needs of the person with swallowing issues in order to make it easier to form a bolus.
More details of these textures can be obtained from the official IDDSI website by clicking on the link below.
If you or someone you care for has swallowing issues you are not alone. Contact your medical adviser to find out what assistance they arrange to help deal with the issues are you are encountering.