Coughing is the result of the body trying to rid itself of something that is aggravating the throat or your respiratory tracts. While everybody has a bout of coughing from time to time, if you experience regular coughing after eating it could be a sign that something more serious is going on.
To cough as a result of eating something really cold is a typical response. When you cough as a result of eating other types of food or whenever you eat then there might be a nervous system condition or stomach issue present. Make sure you understand what signs to try to find and when it is time to see a doctor.
What Causes Coughing After Eating?
There are two various types of coughing that can happen after eating. One if the quick cough to clear your throat, which isn’t much to fret about. The other is the prolonged fit of coughing. That might be caused by any one of the following conditions. Do not self-diagnose, see your doctor so if there is a problem you can care for it while it is easy to treat.
1. Acid Reflux
Heartburn is also called GERD. The primary symptom is that food that has gotten in the stomach then reverses and goes back to the lower esophageal passage. This is due to the fact that the sphincter muscle at the end of this passage is not closing total, or is re-opening during digestion. As this condition introduces partially digested food into the esophagus, its high acid content can cause inflammation that causes coughing after eating, and during.
2. Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions and food sensitivities are a common cause of inflammation and response that can lead to coughing. It doesn’t constantly need to be the food that causes it however the temperature and preparation of the food too, according to iytmed.com. If you aren’t used to a food type that can also trigger a sudden coughing response.
3. Infection or Inflammation
This is one of the most typical factors for recurrent coughing after eating. When you get an infection or inflammation of the esophagus, throat and other parts of the throat area it can cause all the parts to breakdown. This can cause difficulty in swallowing and more. The cause of the inflammation can originate from multiple sources – bacteria, virus and even ecological irritants. Coughing isn’t the only problem to stress over with infection or inflammation, choking can also happen.
4. Dysphagia (Discomfort in Swallowing)
Part of the factor that this condition can impact how much you cough when you eat is it makes swallowing hard. When you eat, it can activate a defense reaction in the body that causes it to want to cough and get rid of the object (food). Eating softened food, pureed food and taking much smaller sized bites can assist with this.
5. Asthma
There are two sides to the asthma coin when it comes to coughing after eating. It might be the result of an allergy, or it might be more complicated depending on the type of asthma you have. It is not unusual for the asthma itself to be the cause. A chronic infection of the air passages can almost always cause a coughing bout.
6. Aspiration Pneumonia
This is not the infection based pneumonia that originates from a virus however the issue is caused by you taking in (aspirating) food, liquid or vomit into your lungs. This condition ought to not be taken lightly.
What to Do About Coughing After Eating
Fortunately exists is a lot you can do to reduce coughing after eating. Your doctor might prescribe some medication to assist manage the thickness of phlegm and any heartburn that may be happening, or might guide you to attempt some OTC remedies first. That helps to get the phlegm under control, but then you have to do the following to actually get the condition under control.
- Slow down – Teach yourself to eat more slowly. Use smaller bites and chew the food longer to help make it easier to swallow and absorb. Make sure you are taking small sips of water as you eat too.
- Prevent foods that seem to make it worse – Keep track of which foods seem to cause more of a problem and prevent them. Sometimes level of sensitivities or allergies to specific foods or spices can be a contributing cause.
- Eat healthy – Strive for a healthier and more well balanced diet. Prevent processed foods, salt, and sugar. This will help care for any allergies and nutritional imbalances that can be the cause of the problem, it will also boost your body immune system too.
- Breathe warmed air – Take hot showers and breathe in the air, use an air vaporizer and sit so you can breathe the mist, cup your turn over your mouth and nose and take several deep breaths – anything to warm the air you are breathing. Warm air can reduce the phlegm response.
- Keep your throat moist – Drink teas and warm liquids throughout the day to keep your throat moist. A dry throat can cause phlegm overproduction and a raspy cough.
What Others Have Experienced
It is exceptionally essential that you see a doctor as soon as possible if you are experiencing coughing after eating. The potential for this to be a symptom of a high risk issue is terrific and the earlier you can be detected and treated the better. Here are two cases of individuals who had comparable symptoms and how they managed it.
“I had no concept what was going on for a long period of time, except that things were worsening and I was having more and more of a difficult time eating and breathing. It began with what I thought was post nasal drip. I tried OTC remedies and my doctor even prescribed some medication to try and eliminate the constant thick, stringy mucous I had at the back of my throat. When I spoke it seemed like I had a frog in my throat too. I didn’t believe it was anything serious as I had actually just moved from Southern California to Colorado and chalked it up to a change in environment. I didn’t have any tests done because I told my doctor what I thought it was rather than ask him what it could be a symptom of. It’s dreadful. I always feel like something is stuck in my throat. Now, I have had several tests and been to see professionals. They have diagnosed me with having a hiatal hernia and reflux. The heartburn is horrible. I am on medications that help, but there is still the things in my throat. I cannot swim or enjoy the hot tubs as I now have respiratory concerns too and the heat just makes it difficult to breathe.”
“For me, there might be a possibility a part of my problem is I have heartburn. That would be unusual given that I am not one to obtain heartburn frequently and when I do have a bout some nonprescription stuff takes care of it. The concern for me is all the phlegm and mucous. It’s all over and nothing appears to stop it and absolutely nothing I try appears to make it much better. I haven’t been to a doctor about it yet, I believed I would try posting online to see if anybody has a solution first. It’s like I am constantly crowded – everywhere. I have phlegm in my lungs, chest, throat and it worsens when I eat. There is a lot phlegm when I eat I have an actually hard time breathing. I do not know what it is however I am beginning to believe I have to see a professional about this, however I am just uncertain which sort of specialist to go too and am hoping someone here can help.”
