If, after a flour meal, a cough, runny nose, begins. Exposure to occupational hazards and adverse environmental factors. Symptoms of cough with sputum

Cough is a reaction of the body, the purpose of which is to clear respiratory tract from irritants, so coughing after eating is normal. Irritants sometimes enter the body in the process of eating food and lead to the fact that a person begins to cough.

If coughing after eating is observed often, then this should be told to a doctor who is able to determine the cause of the problem. Once a diagnosis is made, a specialist will suggest treatment. It will include receiving medicines or lifestyle changes.

The most common causes of cough after eating include the following:

• food allergy;
• asthma;
• dysphagia;
• acid reflux (GERD or LPR);
• aspiration pneumonia;
• infections.

Causes of cough after eating

There are several potential causes of cough after eating. The most common ones are listed below.

food allergy

Food allergies can cause shortness of breath or cough after eating

Allergies are a common cause of cough after eating. They can disturb a person at any age, but more often develop in childhood.

When a person is allergic to food, the immune system The body overreacts to substances that it considers harmful. In such cases, people may observe the following:

• wheezing;
• shortness of breath
• discharge from the nose (rhinorrhea);
• anaphylactic shock.

Common food irritants include:

• milk;
• peanut;
• hazelnuts;
• eggs;
• shellfish.

A person may be allergic to one or more foods. If the cause of coughing after eating is an allergy to food, then in such a situation it is important to find out what exactly provokes the reaction of the body.

Set food evoking allergic cough the doctor will help.

Asthma

Asthma affects the airways and develops under the influence of irritants, which also include food.

Sulfites are substances found as additives in various drinks and foods. causing symptoms asthma. If a person has asthma, they should avoid the following:

• beer;
• guilt;
• dried fruits;
• pickled onions;
• soft drinks.

However, it should be noted that any food that provokes an allergic reaction can trigger an asthma attack.

In addition to coughing, a person may observe the following:

• wheezing;
• tightness in chest;
• breathing problems.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is characterized by problems with swallowing. When a person suffers from dysphagia, their body has great difficulty in moving food from the mouth to the stomach. This is accompanied by pain and discomfort.

Dysphagia creates a feeling of food stuck in the throat. This sensation leads to gagging or coughing after eating as the body attempts to clear a perceived blockage in the throat.

Some conditions, such as acid reflux, often cause dysphagia. Define exact reason this disorder the doctor will help.

acid reflux

Acid reflux can irritate the esophagus and cause coughing after eating.

Acid reflux is characterized by the movement of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. AT upper part The esophagus or throat food enters through an opening in the stomach, which is called the lower esophageal sphincter.

When a person consumes food, this sphincter relaxes to allow food to pass into the stomach. In some cases, it does not close completely, and the resulting hole allows acid to pass from the stomach back into the esophagus.

The acid can irritate the esophagus and cause coughing. People may also observe the following:

• sour or bitter taste;
• sore throat;
• burning sensation in the chest.

Frequent acid reflux can be caused by:

• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
• laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

GERD - chronic condition, which causes more sharp shape acid reflux. When a person suffers from GERD, they are more likely to experience the following symptoms:

• difficulty swallowing;
• wheezing;
• nausea;
• vomiting;
• reflux that comes on twice a week or more often
• excess gas in the stomach.

With LPR, people experience symptoms that are somewhat different from symptoms of GERD. This happens because the acid given state may rise to the sinuses. In addition to coughing after eating, this leads to the following:

• drainage of mucus from the nasopharynx;
• hoarseness;
• throat clearing needs.

Both conditions can be treated by a doctor with pharmacological products, and he will probably recommend a change in diet to the patient. However, neither GERD nor LPR can be completely cured.

Aspiration pneumonia

While eating, a person may inhale small particles of food or drink. At healthy people the lungs excrete these particles through coughing. Sometimes the lungs are unable to get rid of small particles. When this happens, bacteria from the food can enter the lungs and lead to aspiration pneumonia.

People have increased risk development of aspiration pneumonia if they suffer acid reflux or problems with swallowing.

Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia include the following:

• loose or hoarse cough after eating;
• painful swallowing;
• excessive salivation;
• dyspnea;
• fatigue;
• heartburn;
• fever shortly after eating.

If a person encounters the symptoms described above, then he should consult a doctor. Aspiration pneumonia can cause serious medical problems, for example respiratory failure or lung abscesses.

infections

People may experience a cough caused by an infection in the upper respiratory system. This cough can occur immediately after eating or drinking, and is not easy to treat because it irritates the throat, prevents recovery, and causes the person to cough again and again.

Infections can develop in the esophagus and larynx. This type of infection can be caused by a virus, fungus, or bacteria. The throat, when infected, usually becomes inflamed and irritated. Inflammation leads to the fact that a person begins to cough and often does this after eating.

When the infection is cleared, the cough goes away.

When is it necessary to see a doctor?

Not every case of coughing after eating is a reason to visit a doctor. However, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible if:

• coughing after eating is common;
• this symptom is observed for more than two weeks;
• the cause of the cough is unknown;
• available ;
• a person who has a cough is an active smoker;
• cough worsens;
• other symptoms occur along with the cough.

Treatment and prevention

Cough that lasts longer than two weeks or does not obvious reasons should be assessed by the physician

Treatment for a cough depends on the cause. Sometimes, to get rid of the problem, it is enough to adjust the diet. In some situations, doctors prescribe special medicines.

In most cases, the therapeutic plan focuses on prevention. Steps to prevent coughing after eating or drinking may include the following:

• slowing down the process of eating;
• increasing the amount of water you drink with meals;
• monitoring the body's response to different products nutrition to identify the cause of the cough;
• taking all medications prescribed by the doctor;
• stopping food intake during coughing fits;
• use of humidifiers to prevent dry throat;
• taking supplements for better digestion.

Conclusion

Cough after eating can often be controlled with simple preventive strategies.

The first step should be to avoid the food that triggers the cough. At the same time, people should always monitor changes in the nature of the cough, duration, frequency of attacks, as well as accompanying symptoms.

If there is any concern or doubt about coughing, one should as soon as possible see a doctor.

Cough is a reflex act that occurs, as a rule, against the background of colds, viral infections, damaging organs breathing. But it is not uncommon for a person to cough after eating. In this case, the causes, as well as the methods of treating the symptom, may be different.

Cough after eating is not usually associated with infectious diseases

Why there is a cough after eating

The reasons why a child or an adult begins to cough after eating are varied. Let's take a closer look at why a cough appears:

• The presence of a piece of food in the airways. It occurs most often against the background of uncoordinated breathing and eating. When talking, the entrance to the larynx opens, which can lead to the ingress of foreign bodies into the respiratory organs. At the same time, the closure of the lumen through which air flows provokes severe shortness of breath or cough.
• Inappropriate food. Sometimes sharp, cold or sour food leads to irritation of the back of the throat, which, in turn, causes a sore throat and cough.
• Inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the pharynx. So, for example, pharyngitis, follicular or other tonsillitis are characterized by a sensation of a lump in the throat, which causes a strong sensitivity of the pharynx, which increases during meals, thereby causing coughing.

Spicy food causes sore throat and urge to cough

• Dysphagia. A condition that implies a disorder in the act of swallowing. In addition to the cough that occurs against the background of this pathology, patients also complain of pain and discomfort in the process of swallowing, that food enters the nose, larynx or trachea.

If dysphagia is suspected, a doctor's consultation is mandatory. Self-diagnosis and treatment folk methods somehow: raise right hand up and wait for the cough to stop on its own, in this case it is extremely dangerous!

More rare causes

• The presence of fistulas between the esophagus and the airways. Formations are congenital or acquired. In the first case, the problem among infants is diagnosed quite quickly. Newborns have a cough during feeding, children suffocate, they have copious mucus. With a small congenital fistula, the manifestations of the pathology are weaker, but sputum discharge persists and frequent protracted bronchitis develops.

Cough after eating can be caused by pathology of the esophagus

• Also, coughing during or after eating appears against the background of acquired diseases, the causes of their occurrence are different - inflammation, trauma, decomposition of neoplasms. Food enters the respiratory system through the fistula, causing coughing during and after eating. The attack is quite intense, accompanied by characteristic wheezing. In the future, shortness of breath occurs, food particles in the airways provoke a chronic inflammatory process, manifested by pneumonia, lung abscess.
• Gastroesophageal reflux. Pathology in which the contents of the stomach enter the esophagus, and sometimes reach back walls pharynx, irritating the mucous membranes and provoking a reflex act, characterized by a desire to cough strongly. Also, the patient is constantly worried about shortness of breath, pain in the abdomen and behind the sternum, especially in lying position, at night or in the morning. This pathology affects women in the last stages of pregnancy.
• food allergy. It manifests itself with intolerance to certain foods. In addition to the condition in which the victim coughs or vice versa, is not able to fully cough, he may also experience swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat. An allergic reaction often causes shortness of breath and resulting panic. Diagnosing such an allergy is usually easy, since the body reacts sharply to only certain foods and the cough manifests itself from time to time.

Allergy - probable cause cough after eating

• Worms. They can also cause a wet or dry cough. In addition, the patient has great weakness, a feeling of discomfort, a breakdown, an increase in body temperature, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, bad smell from the mouth and complaints of nausea.
• Sometimes cough occurs during or after eating in the elderly or lying people. Often this is a sign of a lack of fluid in the body, which leads to problems with the digestion of food.

Types of cough

Finding out the exact cause of the condition in which a person wants to cough after eating will help determine the type of reflex act. Differentiation of the type of symptom helps to identify the nature of the pathology that caused the cough and the duration of the process:

• With slime. Cough after eating with sputum different reasons. The main one is the inflammatory process in the respiratory organs. These may be chronic diseases prolonged bronchitis, emphysema, asthma) or acute pathologies airways (tracheitis, pneumonia).

Cough with mucus often accompanies inflammatory diseases

• Dry, with impossibility of expectoration reflex act. Indicates the ingress of food into the airways of a person or irritation of the upper respiratory tract, accompanied by tickling in the throat.
• Cough with vomiting or esophageal vomiting. The most popular causes are esophageal valve stenosis, gastroesophageal reflux, neoplasms in the respiratory system.

Complications

Coughing after eating is not always harmless. Sometimes they indicate the existence of a serious problem, ignoring which can provoke development various complications which are much more difficult to eliminate.

If food particles enter the respiratory tract, suffocation may occur

So, as a result of untreated reflux, difficult therapy may occur. peptic ulcer. Bronchial asthma adversely affects the quality and length of life of the patient. Choking attacks, which can begin after food particles enter the respiratory tract, can lead to oxygen starvation or even death.

Treatment of cough that occurs after eating

Cough after eating occurs quite often and how to treat this condition directly depends on the reason why the cough reflex manifests itself.

If food enters the respiratory tract of a person, you must first give the victim the opportunity to cough up on their own. If after half a minute there is no improvement, urgent action must be taken.

Patient with choking needs emergency help

Ways emergency assistance adults and children are slightly different. In the first case, it is necessary to stand behind the back of the victim, who cannot breathe on his own, grab his upper abdomen with his hands and press sharply with his palms so that the movement of the hands is directed upwards and towards himself. As a rule, you need to do at least 5, and sometimes more of these repetitions. In a situation where a person, despite the assistance provided, loses consciousness, cardiopulmonary resuscitation will be required.

If, after eating, the child coughs and there is a suspicion that a piece of food is stuck in his airways, it is necessary to act urgently. The baby (especially for babies) is placed on the stomach so that the child's head is below the level of the hips. Next, with the base of the palm, it is necessary to perform pushing movements, intensely press on the area between the shoulder blades. It is important to measure the strength of the impact with the age and complexion of the baby. This is especially true for children under one year old.

Cough caused by eating unsuitable food easily disappears after a few sips warm water. In the presence of inflammatory processes in the respiratory organs, therapy of the disease that caused inflammation is indicated.

Children are turned upside down

The treatment of dysphagia depends on the factor that caused the pathology. Sometimes this condition can be alleviated by drinking warm, with the addition of lemon juice, soft or semi-liquid food.

Cough resulting from a fistula between the esophagus and respiratory organ, passes after surgical intervention. Allergies that occur while taking certain foods are treated with antihistamines.

The treatment of a cough that occurs as a result of reflux should be prescribed by a doctor. Medical therapy, according to the reviews of patients and doctors, is very effective, lasts for 1-3 months and includes taking:

• antacids - drugs that neutralize hydrochloric acid as part of gastric juice(Phosphalugel, Maalox);

Treatment of the symptom may require antacids

• prokinetics - drugs that stabilize the motility of the digestive organ (Domperidone, Trimebutin);
• antisecretory substances, in particular H2-blockers (Cemitidine, Famotidine);
• blockers proton pump(Pantoprazole, Esomeprazole).

Prevention of cough after eating

Infrequent, mild coughing after eating usually does not indicate anything serious and does not require treatment. It is enough to follow some preventive measures in order to minimize the manifestations of the problem after eating. For this you need:

• stop smoking;

A healthy lifestyle will help get rid of a cough

• do not overeat, portions should be small;
• exclude from the menu food that provokes allergic reactions;
• try to use natural products nutrition, do not buy semi-finished products;
• wear loose clothing that does not compress the abdomen;
• chew food thoroughly;
• do not overeat, monitor your weight, if necessary, review the diet and lose extra pounds;
• ventilate the room and regularly carry out wet cleaning in it;
• evening meal should be light and no later than 3 hours before bedtime;

Need to regularly ventilate the room

• do not sleep on a mattress that is too soft, because the position of the body at the same time squeezes the hypochondrium, which further leads to problems with the respiratory system.

If preventive measures are ineffective, it is recommended to consult a doctor who, based on the survey data, will identify the cause of the cough, put correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.

About the main groups of cough medicines will be discussed in video:

Contrary to popular belief, coughing is not always a sign of a respiratory disease. For example, if throat spasms appear after eating, this may indicate various ailments gastrointestinal tract that require mandatory treatment. The human body is designed in such a way that all of its external manifestations signal any failures or processes occurring inside. That is why it is important to study the nature of coughing attacks that appear after eating in order to exclude serious ailments or start their treatment in time.

The unpleasant symptom caused by a spasm of the throat has several causes, regardless of the period of its occurrence. In particular, after eating, it may appear due to the following ailments:

Also, coughing while eating can be a sign neurotic disorders, especially often this manifests itself in the early childhood. In no case should you try to make a diagnosis yourself, as this can lead to lost time and worsen the situation.

It is also worth paying attention to the nature of the cough, in particular, whether it is productive. The diagnosis is often determined by the type of cough spasm and whether it is accompanied by sputum production.

Cough with phlegm

The most common type of cough after eating is one in which there is a clear separation of sputum. If such attacks occur after each meal, it makes sense to consult a doctor. A cough with sputum is especially dangerous for a child, since this often indicates that the baby is choking and help is required immediately.

The presence of sputum as a result of coughing after eating is more frequent view than its dry version. Usually it indicates ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, namely gastroesophageal reflux disease, which manifests itself in chronic form and affects the digestive tract.

The contents of the stomach in such a disease are thrown back into the esophagus, which eventually leads to its defeat, causing a cough spasm with sputum production.

The appearance of sputum with a spasm of the throat after eating often indicates the usual ingestion of pieces of food directly into the respiratory tract. The spasm in this case can be so strong that it will cause the release of sputum that has accumulated in the bronchi. This phenomenon is of particular danger in childhood, since it is poorly diagnosed and can lead to death.

An allergic reaction may be accompanied strong cough after eating, which will be characterized by sputum production. It arises not only as a result of external stimulus on the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs, but also as a response of the body to the intake of any prohibited product. This situation is very dangerous because it can cause anaphylactic shock and even lead to death.

Sputum can also be discharged in the presence of a peptic ulcer, both of the stomach and intestines. This is a common occurrence in the acute stage, when taking even approved products leads to a strong wet cough similar to the one that happens with a cold. It is usually accompanied severe pain in the area of abdominal cavity and recognized by ultrasound.

If a cough with phlegm after eating occurs in old age, this indicates dehydration. When a lack of fluid is diagnosed in the body, this, in turn, leads to a disruption in the process of digestion of food, which will be signaled by a strong cough spasm.

There are, therefore, several reasons why a cough with sputum discharge occurs after eating. You should not try to self-diagnose yourself, as this will significantly delay treatment in order to eliminate the underlying problem that causes such a symptom.

Cough without sputum

The danger of coughing immediately after eating is that it is sometimes difficult to determine by its appearance true reason his appearance. For example, a cough with sputum indicates that food particles have entered the respiratory tract, but with such a problem, sputum discharge may not occur. Moreover, doctors often consider dry throat spasm as the first symptom of a foreign body entering the respiratory system.

If a cough without sputum is a symptom of food entering the respiratory system, measures should be taken immediately, since the passage of foreign particles through respiratory system may lead to the development the most complex ailments. In particular, it may be difficult to treat and not immediately diagnosed. In addition, a dry cough, even if it occurs after eating, may indicate simple cold infections, which make themselves felt more strongly, since food, when swallowed, irritates the already irritated mucous system of the larynx.

Do I need to see a doctor and which one?

Whether the appearance of cough spasms after eating requires a visit to a doctor depends on the type of symptom itself and the frequency of its occurrence. If the attack happened once after eating, then you should not panic, because, most likely, the matter is in the usual ingress of foreign particles into the respiratory system.

However, if seizures are observed systematically and are accompanied by sputum discharge, it is necessary to consult a doctor for examination. Initially, it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis with a local therapist, who will listen to the chest for wheezing, and also examine the condition of the throat. If visually no problems are observed, further diagnostics is required in the form of fluorography and blood donation for analysis. The presence of blackouts in the respiratory organs will indicate damage to them various infections. In addition, with the help additional research it will be possible to establish the presence of a foreign body in the respiratory tract.

If the therapist fails to make a diagnosis, despite all the examinations carried out, it is necessary to consult a doctor more narrow specialization- pulmonologist. In addition, if there are gastrointestinal problems, a gastroenterologist will treat cough as a symptom.

Treatment method given symptom will depend directly on the cause that caused it. Thus, the following treatment options will be possible:

1. The presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease requires long-term therapy by a gastroenterologist, which includes a certain course of medication, diet and regular examination about the dynamics of the disease.
2. If the causes of cough after eating are chronic disease respiratory organs, in particular, it can be bronchial asthma, treatment is carried out by a pulmonologist using a course of drugs for inhalation and various medications.
3. Acute viral infection can also cause coughing fits after eating. Most often, the methods of dealing with it are to take immunomodulators. If the disease is bacterial nature, then therapy is carried out by taking antibiotics.

Thus, the presence of a cough after eating should not be considered as a harmless phenomenon, since it may indicate quite serious diseases that require immediate treatment.

Cough is a reflex reaction of the body to a particular stimulus. He performs protective function and promotes the removal of sputum and other foreign bodies from the trachea, bronchi or larynx. For the most part, coughing attacks accompany colds. But in some cases they can be caused by reasons of a completely different nature.

For example, a person may notice a cough after eating with phlegm. Doctors note the severity of such a symptom and are advised to pay close attention to it. After all, he can signal serious ailments. Why does this type of cough appear, and what causes it?

The reasons

If the cough after eating for which the reasons have not been established bothers you very much, we advise you to consult a doctor. AT this case It makes sense to make an appointment with an allergist or gastroenterologist. Don't delay in long box going to a specialist. Delay can cause dangerous complications. So, for example, long-term neglect of the problem of GERD often leads to the occurrence of ulcerative pathologies in the food system.

Only a doctor is able to accurately determine the cause of cough after eating and prescribe an effective remedy. drug treatment. But don't be left out either. The patient himself can also do a lot to get rid of this. unpleasant symptom. To eliminate such bronchospasms, we recommend:

Older people quite often develop a dry cough after eating. It signals a lack of fluid in the body. This in turn impairs the efficiency of digestion. We recommend drinking one glass of clean water immediately after meals.

If a main reason cough after eating is GERD, doctors prescribe antacids. They protect the mucous membrane of the digestive system from irritation and inflammation. Taking one course of such drugs is enough to significantly reduce the amount of sputum, and the cough itself completely stops.

Why is it important to listen to your body? Because he is able to tell a lot about the causes of coughing after eating. Watch yourself. For example, heartburn clearly indicates one of the possible stomach diseases. Frequent selection sputum is a sign of approaching asthma.

Prevention

If coughing attacks after eating occur infrequently (episodicly), then you should not worry. Treatment in this case is not required. Next preventive actions help to completely get rid of this unpleasant symptom:

If prevention is ineffective, and coughing attacks have not disappeared, contact a specialist immediately. Only he is able to prescribe an examination and, based on its results, clearly determine key reason bronchospasms. And, of course, do not self-medicate. Excessive self-confidence or carelessness is fraught with serious health problems.

The cough that occurs in humans is almost always associated with colds, in rare cases- with allergies or inhalation of dust particles, smoke or molecules of any chemical compound. However, there are people who are tormented by suddenly appearing after eating.

At first, a cough appears, and a person practically does not react to this symptom, but when it lasts for a long time, this can mean that a person has serious illnesses. To find out which factors cause reflex spasms of the airways, it is necessary to undergo a complete medical examination.

When answering the question: why does a cough appear after eating, Physicians can presumably name several reasons:

Factors influencing similar condition quite a lot, but a common cause of cough after eating is GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease, in which the absorbed food is ejected from the stomach into the esophagus.

This is provoked by irritation with its acidic masses. Stomach acid causes heartburn, which, rising up the larynx, irritates the receptors in the throat, causing coughing.

Decreased tone of the food ring, whose function is to hold swallowed foods in the stomach, is not able to shrink tightly, and food is ejected into the stomach under the action of air bubbles that a person swallows during eating.

The symptom may be hallmark other diseases of the stomach and intestines, therefore, in order to make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, the patient is first referred to a gastroenterologist.

can provoke spastic conditions of the bronchi and lungs. If a person has allergic reactions on food or asthma, sputum is often coughed up after eating.

In this case, eating increases metabolic processes and blood circulation in the body, the bronchi begin to work in an increased rhythm, and sputum is separated from them.

When a person has a cold, the mucous membrane of the throat is irritated due to the high content of microbes in it. Even the slightest extra annoying factor(in this case, pieces of food) can cause and.

Products with high content spices, vinegar or other flavoring components of a bright content irritate the pharyngeal tissue, resulting in perspiration and subsequent coughing.

Quite often, the cause of coughing is an insufficient amount of fluid in the body (dehydration), which dries the bronchial mucosa, causing coughing.

If a child coughs after eating, the following factors may influence this:

• getting pieces of food into the lungs;
• laryngospasm, etc.

Methods for treating cough after eating in adults and children

Treatment cough reflex that occurs after eating is prescribed after diagnosing the patient and determining the causes of the disease.

For this, numerous procedures for examining the stomach and sampling for allergies can be prescribed. Delivered as a result of the examination of the patient, the diagnosis determines how to treat cough after eating.

If it is caused by irritation of the pharynx and larynx as a result of exposure infectious agents, treatment is carried out on the basis of taking antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs.

If the cause of the cough after eating is an allergy to certain types irritants, antihistamines are prescribed.

When a patient is diagnosed with GERD, antacids are prescribed.

If parents notice that their child is coughing after eating, you should immediately consult a doctor, as developing asthma may be the cause.

Prevention measures

There are certain factors and actions of people that are not recommended when a cough reflex occurs after eating. These include:

• do not overeat, especially in the evening;
• no need to wear rough clothes that tighten the skin in the throat and stomach;
• no need to limit yourself when drinking liquids;
• you can not swallow badly chewed pieces of food.

Preventive measures include:

• frequent wet cleaning of the house (to minimize dust);
• you should eat in small portions, chewing pieces of food thoroughly;
• avoidance of food allergens;
• plentiful drink;
• restriction in the use of fatty foods;
• prohibition on alcohol and other drugs.

Conclusion

A cough that occurs after eating is far from a harmless trifle. It can be provoked quite serious illness. Coughing with sputum after eating is especially dangerous, as this may indicate that a person has allergies or asthma.

If the listed preventive measures observed, and the cough after eating persists, you should immediately consult a doctor and go full examination.