One of the muscles affected by bulbar palsy is the pharyngeal muscle, which is primarily responsible for swallowing. Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a main symptom of bulbar palsy related to weakness in this muscle. Symptoms of dysphagia can include pain while swallowing, drooling, a hoarse voice, feeling as if food is stuck in the throat, frequent heartburn or regurgitation, unexpected weight loss, coughing or gagging, and eventually an inability to swallow.

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