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What Causes Coughing While Eating?

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Posted on Tue, 19 Apr 2016
Question: why do I start coughing when I start eating?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
List of most probable causes given for your reference ma'am

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The reasons could be any of the following:

+You are not chewing your food well enough (resulting in aspiration)
+Eating too fast (resulting in aspiration)
+Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
+Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing): Is just a symptom, and can be associated with numerous disorders (including GERD)
+Respiratory disorders (e.g. asthma)
+Reflex disorder: Your cough reflex, present in your throat is being stimulated or irritated by food or drink

These are the main causes I can think of right now ma'am, and so I would urge you to visit your doctor for a more elaborate evaluation in finding the cause and managing your symptoms accordingly.

I hope you find my response helpful. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (8 minutes later)
I do have acid reflux, can this coughing issue be managed?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It should be, but only if the acid reflux is managed well enough

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

If the cough is related to the acid reflux, then managing the reflux would help manage the cough ma'am.

Have you met a doctor regarding the acid reflux who has diagnosed you and provided you with the treatment regimen and a list of do's and don'ts? If not, please do so. But if you want I can also provide you with that list.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (6 hours later)
What are the do's and don'ts?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Here are my suggestions, try to follow them religiously

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

Here are my suggestions:

+Avoid smoking
+Avoid alcohol
+Avoid spicy food
+Avoid carbonated drinks
+Avoid fatty food
+Avoid tea and/or coffee
+Avoid oily food
+Avoid fried food
+Avoid strenuous forms of exercise
+Avoid over eating
+If you are over weight or obese, then work towards losing weight
+Drink plenty of water
+Have 5-6 smaller meals instead of 2-3 larger ones
+Avoid long gaps between meals
+Have 1 tablet of lansoprazole 30 mg once every morning 15 minutes before breakfast, make it a habit
+Anytime you experience aggravation of symptoms (i.e. an episode) then have 1 tablet of either ranitidine or omeprazole 15 minutes before each meal. These tablets are not harmful in any way, but I would still prefer you use them only when you have an aggravation of symptoms
+Make sure you finish having your dinner at least 3 hours before bedtime
+Make sure you walk at least for 15-30 minutes an hour after your last meal of the day
+Avoid stress (can speak to a doctor about relaxation exercises in case you are stressed most times)

I hope this helps. Please be patient with my suggestions, but trust me, if you follow them religiously, you should not suffer these symptoms anymore, or they will appear very rarely and when they do, you will know why they appeared.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (4 hours later)
Thank you for your time
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please do not hesitate to write to me about anything, I am always here

Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.

You are always welcome.

Best wishes.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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What Causes Coughing While Eating?

Brief Answer: List of most probable causes given for your reference ma'am Detailed Answer: Hello ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. The reasons could be any of the following: +You are not chewing your food well enough (resulting in aspiration) +Eating too fast (resulting in aspiration) +Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) +Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing): Is just a symptom, and can be associated with numerous disorders (including GERD) +Respiratory disorders (e.g. asthma) +Reflex disorder: Your cough reflex, present in your throat is being stimulated or irritated by food or drink These are the main causes I can think of right now ma'am, and so I would urge you to visit your doctor for a more elaborate evaluation in finding the cause and managing your symptoms accordingly. I hope you find my response helpful. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help. Best wishes.