Do you suffer from shortness of breath after eating?

During heavy meals, or when taking mouthfuls rather rapidly, the stomach can become bloated and puffed-up. This would lead to adverse events as the bloated stomach presses against the overlying 'diaphram' of the chest. The diaphragm is an essential entity in allowing the chest to expand fully and when it is compromised it may lack its effectiveness. This would mean that, the person has to breath faster in order to obtain the same amount of oxygen which the person acquires during normal breathing takes place.

Another possibility is 'acid reflux'. In certain individuals, the stomach acid can travel back through the esophagus towards the 'voice box' and cause sudden muscle spasm. As it is the entrance to the lungs, the spasm would restrict the air intake and therefore lead to breathlessness.

In certain instances, when a person is suffering from 'heart failure', the body may not be able to meet up with the oxygen demand as more blood gets re-distributed to the intestine. Thus, the heart would have to function more vigorously although the heart failure would prevent them doing so. This would lead to breathlessness as the lungs would have to compromise the failing heart.

When people suffer from tumors in the region of trachea, esophagus...etc, taking a meal would compromise the already compressed airways and the diaphragm which might lead to shortness of breath.

Apart from these causes, allergic reactions to foods can also give rise to breathlessness although it can be associated with several other manifestations such as rashes or hives, itching of the body and facial or body swelling.

When looking at the possible underlying causes, there are several methods to curb the shortness of breath in some instances. These include,

-Taking small frequent meals instead of a larger single meal.

-Avoid laying down soon after taking a meal.

-Avoid taking excessively fatty food.

-Drinking water after the meal instead of between each mouthful.

-Avoid taking fizzy drinks during meals.

-Taking antacid medications before the meal.

-Avoiding excessively spicy foods.

-Undergo medical checkup to ascertain the health of the heart and the lungs.

Given the multiple causes associated with shortness of breath, one should not neglect nor leave it to settle automatically for any reason. Thus, after undertaking the measures mentioned above if relief is not forthcoming, medical advise should be obtained without a delay.