Published by Riverview Health on May 20, 2019
You’ve probably heard, ‘I’m okay, it just went down the wrong pipe,’ paired with coughing for the next few minutes. All of us have difficulty swallowing once in a while, but how do you know if your swallowing is appropriate or not? And why does it matter if you’re swallowing accurately? Keep reading to find out.
What are signs of problematic swallowing?
Coughing
As mentioned before, it is normal to cough once in a while when you swallow. However, if you are finding yourself coughing a lot when you eat or drink, this may be a sign that you are experiencing an irregular swallow.
Throat Clearing
Throat clearing after you take a sip of water or take a bite of food, can be a sign that you are not swallowing safely.
Gurgly Voice
If you notice that your voice is watery or gurgly after you swallow, this may indicate that food is not clearing out of your throat.
Pain When Swallowing
You should never feel pain when swallowing, unless you have a sore throat due to a cold or sickness. If you are experiencing abnormal pain when swallowing, this may indicate an irregular swallow or other problems in the throat.
*There are more signs and symptoms of an errored swallow than listed above. These are a few of many. Please see the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website for more information. //www.asha.org/public/speech/swallowing/swallowing-disorders-in-adults/
Why does safe swallowing matter?
Food and water are supposed to go down the esophagus and into the stomach. However, when food ‘goes down the wrong pipe,’ it is entering the airway. This gives food and water the opportunity to get into the lungs. If food or water gets into the lungs, this can cause aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia can lead to hospitalization. If you believe that you are experiencing an abnormal swallow, see a Speech-Language Pathologist. Speech-Language Pathologists can identify if there is a problem and how to support a health, safe swallow.
Aspiration can occur when food enters the trachea instead of the esophagus, getting stuck in your airways and triggering your body to cough.
If the food isn’t expelled, you can experience following symptoms:
- Violent cough when eating or drinking
- Congested feeling after eating or drinking
- Pain while swallowing
- Lump-like sensation in the throat
- Gurgling when you eat
In babies and children, symptoms of food aspiration may include:
- Weak sucking
- Breathing issues such as wheezing
- Rapid breathing when eating
- Red face, watery eyes, or changes in expression when feeding
- Slight increase in temperature after feeding
- Recurrent lung or airway infections
What can cause food aspiration?
You may have trouble swallowing or chewing as you age, causing you to aspirate more often. Factors that cause food aspiration include:
How is aspiration treated?
Lifestyle modifications can help relieve aspiration:
- Not talking while eating food
- Maintaining good posture while eating
- Avoiding sticky foods
- Cutting your food into small pieces and chewing thoroughly
- Swallowing food before taking another bite
- Adding moisture to dry food
- Avoiding fried or spicy foods at least 3 hours before bedtime
- Eating when relaxed and alert
- Avoiding smoking
- Taking care of your mouth and teeth
Medically Reviewed on 12/2/2021
References
Image Source: iStock Images //www.webmd.com/lung/what-is-aspiration //health.clevelandclinic.org/whats-going-on-when-something-goes-down-the-wrong-pipe/
//www.enthealth.org/conditions/aspiration/
Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R.N. — Written by on March 4, 2019
Pulmonary aspiration is the medical term for a person accidentally inhaling an object or fluid into their windpipe and lungs. This can lead to coughing, difficulty breathing, discomfort, and sometimes choking.
Most people occasionally experience pulmonary aspiration when something they are eating or drinking “goes down the wrong way.”
Or, aspiration can be a continual problem that results from an underlying health condition.
The term aspiration can also refer to a medical procedure, during which a doctor uses a suction tube or needle to remove unwanted fluid from part of a person’s body.
In this article, we discuss the different meanings of aspiration and describe causes, risk factors, and complications. We also look into treatment and prevention strategies, how aspiration affects children, and when to see a doctor.
Aspiration has two health-related meanings. One is a medical condition, and the other is a procedure, so it is helpful to understand the difference.
Pulmonary aspiration
Share on PinterestSymptoms of aspiration can include coughing, wheezing, and painful swallowing.
Pulmonary aspiration is a condition that occurs when a person inhales a foreign substance into their windpipe and lungs.
It often happens when something a person is eating or drinking goes down the wrong way. Or, it can occur when someone breathes in:
- water, such as when swimming or playing in a pool or river
- saliva
- stomach contents, including vomit
- smoke, fumes, or dust
These substances can partially block the airways and irritate the lungs, which can lead to coughing, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms.
The aspiration procedure
Aspiration can also refer to a medical procedure, during which a healthcare professional uses a suction tube or needle to remove harmful fluid from the lungs, joints, abscesses, or other organs or tissues.
A doctor may also perform aspiration to take a sample of fluid and test it for signs of infection, cancer cells, or the presence of certain substances.
When a person aspirates something into their airways, it may not cause obvious symptoms.
However, if the substance even partially blocks the windpipe or irritates the lungs, it can lead to:
- coughing
- a feeling that something is stuck in the throat
- painful swallowing
- wheezing
- trouble breathing
- a hoarse voice
Usually when a person eats or drinks, the food or liquid moves from the mouth into the throat and down through the esophagus, or food pipe, into the stomach.
Pulmonary aspiration occurs when the substance accidentally passes into the windpipe and lungs instead of the esophagus. This typically results from a problem with the swallowing reflex or a lack of tongue control.
Aspiration can also occur while a person is having surgery under anesthesia. The stomach contents can travel up to the mouth, then down through the windpipe and into the lungs.
Anesthesia reduces a person’s level of consciousness and ability to protect their airways, which increases the risk of aspiration. This is why doctors often ask people to fast before having a surgical procedure.
Anesthetists also take precautions to prevent aspiration, such as by protecting the airways with intubation after administering anesthesia.
Some health conditions can also increase a person’s risk of pulmonary aspiration.
Most people occasionally aspirate something into their lungs, and certain issues can increase this risk.
A 2015 cross-sectional study investigated risk factors for aspiration in 105 people who had experienced at least one stroke.
The research indicated that participants with any of the following conditions were seven times more likely to develop aspiration:
- dysphagia, which is the medical term for difficulty swallowing
- an impaired or absent gag reflex
- reduced physical mobility
- neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease
Additional factors that may increase a person’s risk of aspiration include:
- intoxication from drugs or alcohol, which can lead to impaired consciousness and reflexes
- dementia
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Aspiration can introduce harmful foreign bodies or substances into the lungs, which can create additional problems.
For example, when a person aspirates something that contains harmful bacteria into the lungs, this can lead to infection and inflammation, which characterize a condition called aspiration pneumonia.
Symptoms of aspiration pneumonia can include:
- a chronic cough
- coughing up blood or green sputum
- a fever
- chest pain
- fatigue
- breathing difficulties, such as shortness of breath or wheezing
When aspiration involves toxic fumes, chemical pneumonia can develop.
Although there is no infection, chemical pneumonia causes inflammation and symptoms similar to those of aspiration pneumonia.
According to Children’s Hospital Colorado, aspiration is a common problem in children, and a parent or caregiver may not notice until the child chokes or develops a chronic cough.
A 2016 study reviewed the medical records of 102 children who underwent endoscopy after having symptoms of aspiration. The researchers found that 49 of these children had aspirated fragments of nuts or seeds.
Symptoms of aspiration in children may not be the same as those in adults and can include:
- a grimacing expression
- weak sucking
- excessive drooling
- feeding problems or difficulty breathing when feeding
- wheezing
- frequent chest infections
Risk factors for aspiration in children can include:
Treatment options for children with chronic aspiration can include GERD medications, speech or occupational therapy, and surgery.
Aspiration does not always require medical treatment. However, if any of the following symptoms arise, call 911 or go to the emergency room:
- choking or a blocked airway
- noisy breathing
- bluish skin or nails
- chest pain
- wheezing
Symptoms of aspiration do not always present themselves immediately — they may take hours or days to develop.
See a doctor if the following symptoms occur after aspiration:
- a fever
- increased mucus production
- chronic coughing
- coughing up blood
- foul-smelling mucus
Treatment for aspiration depends on the severity of a person’s symptoms and the material they inhaled. In some instances, treatment is unnecessary.
If an object, such as a piece of food, is still in the lungs, the doctor may recommend a bronchoscopy.
During this procedure, a healthcare professional will insert a tube with a camera down a person’s throat and into the lungs to remove the foreign material.
For people aspiration pneumonia, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection.
When aspiration results from a medical condition, such as a stroke, speech therapy may help to improve a person’s swallowing reflex and lower their risk of aspiration.
Dietary and lifestyle changes can also help treat chronic aspiration. If it fails to respond to these methods, a person may require tube-feeding to meet their nutritional needs.
Share on PinterestA person can take smaller bites of food and chew slowly to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration.
A person can take steps to reduce their risk of pulmonary aspiration, including:
- taking smaller bites of food and chewing slowly
- avoiding foods that are difficult to chew, such as fatty cuts of meat
- refraining from eating or drinking while lying down
- avoiding giving children foods that are easy to choke on, such as nuts, seeds, hotdogs, and grapes
- attending speech or occupational therapy to improve swallowing techniques
- following the doctor’s instructions for fasting prior to surgery
- speaking with a doctor about medications that affect swallowing
Aspiration can refer to a health condition or medical procedure.
During the procedure, a doctor uses a suction tube or needle to remove fluid from part of a person’s body.
The health condition, called pulmonary aspiration, happens when a person accidentally inhales a foreign substance, such as food or drink, into their lungs.
Symptoms can vary in severity, but people are often able to cough up the inhaled material.
Inhaling harmful substances can lead to complications such as pneumonia. Certain medical conditions, including dysphagia and GERD, can increase a person’s risk of aspiration.
Mild aspiration does not usually require treatment. However, see a doctor if the foreign material becomes stuck in the lungs, or symptoms of pneumonia develop.
For people with chronic aspiration, the doctor will focus on treating the underlying cause. Also, speech therapy can help improve a person’s swallowing technique and tongue control.
Last medically reviewed on March 4, 2019
- Pulmonary System
- Respiratory
- Flu / Cold / SARS
- Pediatrics / Children's Health
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