In the article we will figure out why a cough with phlegm occurs after eating.
Cough in medicine is considered a typical reaction of the body to the penetration of foreign bodies and pathogenic irritants into the lower respiratory canals, which is dangerous to life and he alth. We are talking about sputum, food particles and other objects. Sometimes reflex processes are false, they are the body's response to the action of external and endogenous factors. In such a case, coughing does not help the body, but bothers the person. Reflex contraction of the airway tissue often appears after eating. There are many reasons for this. It is important to emphasize that, according to statistics, a cough after eating with sputum is observed in approximately one in ten patients. This is an extremely dangerous phenomenon.
Reasons
Cough after eating with phlegm can develop for the following reasons:
- The presence of bronchialasthma.
- Development of reflex disease.
- Immunological reaction of the body (it is worth noting that the reflex in each specific situation has its own character).
- The presence of infectious processes in the advanced stage and the like.
- Development of heart failure with a congestive component.
Cough after eating with sputum may occur as a consequence of these diseases. True, this is not axiomatic.
Possible diseases: reflux esophagitis
This disease is a condition in which there is a reflux of contents from the stomach area into the esophagus. It is not excluded the distant casting of particles of undigested food and gastric juice, reaching the lower respiratory tract. In this case, partial aspiration may occur in the form of reflux of contents into the bronchi or lungs.
Usually reflux occurs with belching and is accompanied by heartburn. To get rid of this, the body initiates a cough reflex. Since it is a matter of survival, the response of the body can be extremely intense. This disease is often confused with gastritis, which is fundamentally wrong. These are completely different diseases. In case of suspicion of one or another pathological condition, differential diagnosis is required.
The presence of gastritis with high acidity as a factor in coughing after eating
In this case, the mechanism of cough formation after eating with sputum is generally similar to the last described case. As before, in this casethere is a reflux of gastric contents into the lower respiratory tract, but if a person has gastritis, symptoms may worsen at night.
That is, a cough attack can be observed a couple of hours after eating. In this regard, patients can not always link one to the other. This greatly complicates the diagnosis. Special informative studies are required.
Cough with phlegm as a consequence of an allergic reaction to food
Another cause of cough after eating with phlegm is allergies.
Allergy is a real scourge for modern humanity. During an allergic reaction, the human body produces a large amount of a special substance (histamine) that destroys cells at a generalized level. This causes itching along with coughing, sneezing and other symptoms. An immunological response may occur several minutes after eating foods that are allergenic.
Cough in such a case is particularly intense, it may be accompanied by shortness of breath, sputum, suffocation, and in addition, chest pain. In especially severe cases, the onset of anaphylactic shock with subsequent death is not excluded.
Also why does cough with phlegm start after eating?
Asthma
Cough with phlegm after eating can also contribute to bronchial asthma. This disease is a chronic infectious, inflammatory or allergic disease, duringwhich can occur severe obstruction in the form of narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi. This condition is a potentially incurable disease that can cause death in patients. If present, systematic treatment is required. But it is worth noting that identifying asthmatic processes is not an easy task.
After eating, a cough begins with sputum discharge in various inflammations.
Influence of infectious inflammatory process
In this case, there is no direct connection between the appearance of a cough and the intake of products. Here the place has a defeat of the lower respiratory tract by bacterial agents. Often we are talking about the secondary involvement of the nasopharynx and throat in the pathological process. Food can only irritate these anatomical structures, against which an intense cough may occur.
Absolutely every person who suffered from colds must have met with this condition. In this case, urgent treatment will be required so as not to provoke the onset of pneumonia or other diseases.
If a cough occurs after eating, then we are talking about the ingestion of food in different quantities in the way of breathing. The respiratory anatomical structure of a person is arranged in such a way that when foreign objects penetrate, the ciliated epithelium immediately reacts and provokes an intense cough reflex.
It is also common to have a cough after eating without phlegm.
Associated symptoms
It will be possible to suspect a certain pathology or condition not only if a problem such as coughing after eating is diagnosed. Additionally, you can navigate by symptoms. In addition to sputum, a cough after eating can also be accompanied by such manifestations:
- The appearance of shortness of breath. This phenomenon suggests an increase in the number of breaths per minute. It can increase with physical exertion and persist even in a state of complete rest.
- The occurrence of suffocation. This develops due to intense airway obstruction. As soon as the bronchi narrow, the lumen becomes smaller, respectively, not enough air enters. In addition, gas exchange can be disturbed, and the patient begins to suffocate. This is an extremely dangerous condition, fraught with death.
- Appearance of heartburn. This condition is accompanied by a burning sensation localized in the pharynx. This is explained by the release of a small amount of acid from the stomach beyond its limits. Doctors usually explain this as a weakness of the sphincter.
- The appearance of a burp. In this case, we are talking about the discharge of gases from the stomach. Problems with this hollow organ are very easy to recognize. Diseases of the digestive system are accompanied by the presence of a sour smell of belching, or it can take on the aroma of a rotten egg, which will indicate an intensive production of hydrogen sulfide.
- The appearance of heaviness in the epigastric region. Such a symptom very often accompanies the pathology of the digestive system.
- The occurrence of reflux. Against the backdrop of this accompanyingsymptom is the release of the contents of the digestive system beyond the anatomical limit. Such a condition is dangerous with possible asphyxia.
Next, we will find out what diagnostics are carried out to determine the diagnosis.
Diagnostics
Cough diagnosis is usually done by pulmonologists. True, due to the multiplicity of possible causes of this symptom, it is possible that consultations of such specialists as a gastroenterologist, allergist, cardiologist and otolaryngologist will be required. At the initial appointment, an assessment of complaints is carried out along with the collection of anamnesis. Next comes the turn for objective research:
- Chest X-ray to rule out problems with the bronchi and lungs as well.
- Performing an X-ray of the stomach in order to assess the state of the digestive system and its initial sections.
- Immunological study and allergy stress test.
- Performing spirography and cardiography.
In addition, other studies are carried out at the discretion of the doctor. The most important thing is to identify the root causes of the cough.
Treatment of pathology
When a strong cough with phlegm is observed after eating, therapy should be aimed at eliminating the main provoking factors. Symptomatic treatment involves the use of antitussive medications of central and peripheral effects. Specific names of medicines, depending on the underlying cause, are selected by a specialist.
It is worth noting that a cough that occurs after eating is a very common symptom, the causes of which are sometimes not so easy to identify. In any case, a thorough diagnosis is required for proper treatment. And treatment, in turn, should be timely. This will certainly allow you to quickly save the patient from excruciating discomfort, and probably from serious he alth problems.
Reviews
Based on the reviews, we can say that many people face such a problem in their lives as a cough with phlegm that occurs after eating products. Some say that the reason for this is bronchial asthma, while others complain of a reflex disease or an immunological reaction of the body.
People write that in order to combat this symptom, it is first of all important to determine the main cause that provokes its appearance. Depending on this, doctors prescribe this or that treatment.
In addition, as stated in the reviews, in this case, symptomatic treatment is mandatory, in which antitussive medications are used to help patients.
We looked at why people cough with phlegm after eating.
