Your intermediate person is n’t ask to be well - versed in the linguistics of human soma , which is how we twist up withgunsfor biceps andnogginsfor heads . So when swallowing something is follow by pharynx annoyance or cough , the fugitive second of discomfort is often describe as food “ run down the untimely pipework . ” But what ’s in reality happening ?

When food is consumed , HuffPost report , more than 30 muscularity activate to ease chewing and swallowing . When the nutrient is ready to will your tongue and head down to your belly , it ’s poised near the ends of two " pipe , " the gorge and the trachea . You desire the food to take the esophageal route , which leads to the stomach . Your consistency roll in the hay this , which is why the voice box and epiglottis fracture to shut down off the trachea , the “ wrong pipework ” of ingestion .

Since we do n’t typically hold our breather when we eat , food can occasionally take a faulty turn into the trachea , an unpleasant scenario be intimate asaspiration , which spark an adrenaline reception and provokes coughing and uncomfortableness . Dislodging the food usually ease the adept , but if it ’s enough to become stuck , you have an obstructed airway and can now be officially state to be choke .

The dreaded ‘wrong pipe’ calamity can strike at any time.

The “ wrong organ pipe ” can also be a result of eating while tired or otherwise distrait or the solvent of a mechanically skillful job owing to illness or injury .

You might also notice that this bump more often with liquids . A sip of urine may arouse a coughing fire . That ’s because liquid move much more quickly , giving the body less time to react .

In extreme case , food or liquids headed in the “ wrong ” direction can thread up in the lungs and cause pneumonia . as luck would have it , that ’s uncommon , and coughing tends to get the food moving back into the esophagus .

The skillful style to minimize the chances of get down solid food stuck is to avoid talking with your back talk full — yes , your parents were correct — and soundly chew sensitive portions .

If you experience double bout of intake , it ’s potential an underlying swallowing disorder or neurological problem is to pick . An hug drug - ray or other tests can help name the issue .

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