When I drink water a little keeps going into my lungs?
April 5, 2013 9:10 AM Subscribe
I noticed the last couple days almost every time a take a sip of water a little goes down the wrong hole into my lungs and makes me cough. What is wrong with me? I should mention I have acid reflux but I have had it for over a year now with nothing like this happening.
This happens to me ALL the time. My mother and her father too. We hate it.
My guess is that some people are just made like that. I wouldn't worry about it.
posted by bluejayway at 9:41 AM on April 5, 2013
My guess is that some people are just made like that. I wouldn't worry about it.
posted by bluejayway at 9:41 AM on April 5, 2013
Have you noticed any other weakness or lack of muscle/motor control? For example, have you noticed an increased tendency to trip or fall?
...if so, it's doctor time.
posted by aramaic at 9:46 AM on April 5, 2013
...if so, it's doctor time.
posted by aramaic at 9:46 AM on April 5, 2013
It's called aspiration and is a symptom of acid reflux. Address the reflux with your doctor.
posted by cecic at 9:47 AM on April 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by cecic at 9:47 AM on April 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
This could be dysphasia, which is Greek for "messed-up eating." If you look at that page, you'll note it can be caused by GERD. I'd see your doctor.
posted by KathrynT at 9:49 AM on April 5, 2013
posted by KathrynT at 9:49 AM on April 5, 2013
Response by poster: I am under a doctors care for GERD and take daily medicine for it (the strongest kind they make) The thing is my acid reflux is really not that bad right now, there have been times like maybe 8 months ago when it was MUCH worse to the point where I would have agonizing pain in my throat. Right now I actually have no pain in my throat at all. I also have lordosis in my lower back (it makes my tummy stick out) and kind of wonder if that throws the alignment out of your stomach or esophagus and might be causing my problems?
posted by john123357 at 10:30 AM on April 5, 2013
posted by john123357 at 10:30 AM on April 5, 2013
I Am Not Your Speech Language Pathologist, I Am Not Your MD. If you experience shortness of breath, fever, or flu-like symptoms, see your doctor immediately and be sure to mention this difficulty (how long, what types of things you experience coughing, etc.) Difficulty swallowing is called "dysphagia", as noted above. Speech-Language Pathologists can diagnose and treat swallowing difficulties, so it might be that your MD would recommend a swallowing evaluation to see what's going on.
Swallowing is tricky business; it requires the coordination and timing of many different muscles. Here's a video to give you an idea of how it all works together. Although the video talks about "food", the same principles apply to liquids.
UPDATE: I see your response. Overall, given the long-standing GERD history and the lordosis, I would talk with your MD about all this. It could be nothing, it could be something. Only your MD and treating clinicians can assess that; not the internet.
posted by absquatulate at 10:36 AM on April 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
Swallowing is tricky business; it requires the coordination and timing of many different muscles. Here's a video to give you an idea of how it all works together. Although the video talks about "food", the same principles apply to liquids.
UPDATE: I see your response. Overall, given the long-standing GERD history and the lordosis, I would talk with your MD about all this. It could be nothing, it could be something. Only your MD and treating clinicians can assess that; not the internet.
posted by absquatulate at 10:36 AM on April 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
missed the edit window: dysphagia, not dysphasia.
posted by KathrynT at 11:20 AM on April 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by KathrynT at 11:20 AM on April 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: So what is the mechanism by which acid reflux causes dysphagia?
posted by john123357 at 11:48 AM on April 5, 2013
posted by john123357 at 11:48 AM on April 5, 2013
When the food or drink leaves the lower pharynx, it should enter the esophagus. With GERD, the upper esophageal sphincter may not be closing and opening at the appropriate times. Any slight mistiming or incoordination can cause food or drink to spill into the larynx. That's where you may have a problem. (I'm a speech language pathologist.)
posted by coolsara at 12:58 PM on April 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by coolsara at 12:58 PM on April 5, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: My understanding was the the weak sphincter that cases GERD is right directly above the stomach, Isint the opening separating whether food or water goes into the lungs or into the stomach pretty high up compared to that?
posted by john123357 at 1:09 PM on April 5, 2013
posted by john123357 at 1:09 PM on April 5, 2013
This may or may not help but I went through a phase where I did this for about a month. It's like I was drinking "wrong", I don't know how else to describe it, I'd take a drink and gulp it right into the wrong pipe and end up coughing.
Again, I don't know how to describe it, but I feel like if you make a point of not opening your throat too much, and/or taking sips in the front of your mouth without it flying to the back, it might help.
posted by cali59 at 1:20 PM on April 5, 2013
Again, I don't know how to describe it, but I feel like if you make a point of not opening your throat too much, and/or taking sips in the front of your mouth without it flying to the back, it might help.
posted by cali59 at 1:20 PM on April 5, 2013
I have slight dysphagia related to some muscle weakness and spasticity.
I find it easier (and I have less incidences) when I drink things with a straw. YMMV, of course. If it gets bad, there are liquid thickeners out there. However, I haven't tried any, and I wouldn't without a doctor's workup of the situation.
posted by spinifex23 at 2:06 PM on April 5, 2013
I find it easier (and I have less incidences) when I drink things with a straw. YMMV, of course. If it gets bad, there are liquid thickeners out there. However, I haven't tried any, and I wouldn't without a doctor's workup of the situation.
posted by spinifex23 at 2:06 PM on April 5, 2013
Thyroid disorders also make swallowing more difficult. Not sure that's the case here, but I thought I'd throw that out there since hyper/hypothyroidism is pretty common.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 11:53 AM on April 6, 2013
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 11:53 AM on April 6, 2013
Response by poster: I'm still wondering because understanding was the the weak sphincter that cases GERD is right directly above the stomach, Isint the opening separating whether food or water goes into the lungs or into the stomach pretty high up compared to that? So how does GERD cause dysphagia?
posted by john123357 at 10:02 PM on April 6, 2013
posted by john123357 at 10:02 PM on April 6, 2013
My understanding is that over time, the acid in the esophagus causes scar tissue and thickening that interferes with the swallowing process. IANASP though.
posted by KathrynT at 10:48 AM on April 7, 2013
posted by KathrynT at 10:48 AM on April 7, 2013
Just go to a doctor, John. I was talking about the UPPER esophageal sphincter (UES).
"'Incompetence' of the UES may be due to its hypotension or reflex relaxation. It results in increased esophagopharyngeal reflux that is best detected by dual pH monitoring techniques rather than esophageal motility studies." Source.
posted by coolsara at 7:36 PM on April 7, 2013
"'Incompetence' of the UES may be due to its hypotension or reflex relaxation. It results in increased esophagopharyngeal reflux that is best detected by dual pH monitoring techniques rather than esophageal motility studies." Source.
posted by coolsara at 7:36 PM on April 7, 2013
I'm still wondering because understanding was the the weak sphincter that cases GERD is right directly above the stomach, Isint the opening separating whether food or water goes into the lungs or into the stomach pretty high up compared to that? So how does GERD cause dysphagia?
Extremely late to this question, but since it's still open and this follow-up seems to remain unresolved... You're right, they are two different anatomical structures, at opposite ends of your esophagus. But the acid coming up from your stomach (due to the weak sphincter at the bottom of your esophagus) can cause damage and scarring to the structures that manage swallowing (at the top of your esophagus).
FWIW, I hope you got this looked at. Getting some water in your lungs occasionally isn't the end of the world, but if it's apple juice or cola or a chunk of hamburger or whatever else you might be swallowing, you can get pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia (lung infection caused by something going down the wrong pipe) is a frequent cause of hospitalization and even death among older folks. It's not something you want to mess around with, even if you are still young.
posted by vytae at 11:26 AM on November 9, 2013
Extremely late to this question, but since it's still open and this follow-up seems to remain unresolved... You're right, they are two different anatomical structures, at opposite ends of your esophagus. But the acid coming up from your stomach (due to the weak sphincter at the bottom of your esophagus) can cause damage and scarring to the structures that manage swallowing (at the top of your esophagus).
FWIW, I hope you got this looked at. Getting some water in your lungs occasionally isn't the end of the world, but if it's apple juice or cola or a chunk of hamburger or whatever else you might be swallowing, you can get pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia (lung infection caused by something going down the wrong pipe) is a frequent cause of hospitalization and even death among older folks. It's not something you want to mess around with, even if you are still young.
posted by vytae at 11:26 AM on November 9, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:14 AM on April 5, 2013