Have you ever experienced that after eating, you are unable to breathe properly? Shortness of breath after food is common in many people, but they neglect it. It should not be taken lightly, as it might be an indication of a severe issue.
In some cases, it occurs because of such basic causes as overeating. At other times, it can be associated with health problems. Here, you will be informed about the symptoms, causes, ICD-10 code, and when you should visit a doctor in this thewebhealth.com blog.
Symptoms of Shortness of Breath After Eating
Your body signals to you when you are out of breath after you eat. The following are just some of the symptoms you can be aware of:
- Shortness of Breath: You have a tightness in your chest and cannot get a deep breath. This may occur immediately after eating.
- Chest Pressure: You can feel tightness in the chest while breathing. This is delicate and unpleasant.
- Rapid Breathing: You experience that you are breathing fastly, even when not doing any activity.
- Wheezing: You are able to hear wheezing with breathing. It may be related to allergies or asthma.
- Fatigue: It can also happen that you are tired after eating due to feeling out of breath. You may want to sleep after eating.
Restlessness: A person may experience stress or anxiety due to the inability to breathe appropriately. You can be irritable till the episode finishes.
What Causes Shortness of Breath After Food?
The list of causes of why you can have shortness of breath after eating is really long. A few are lifestyle issues, and a few are life-threatening. Here are the main causes:
- Overeating: Overeating refers to the consumption of food in large amounts at a given period of time, which causes strain to the stomach. This pressure causes you to find it hard to expand your lungs.
- Food Allergies: Shortness of breath can occur due to an allergy to certain types of food. Food allergens can be shellfish and gluten.
- Dehydration: It happens when your body lacks fluids and impacts your oxygen level. This complicates the process of breathing following eating.
- GERD and Acid Reflux: The stomach acid reaches your throat. This irritates the airways and produces shortness of breath.
- Asthma: It can also be caused by eating some of the types of food and also by overeating the stomach. This creates a difficulty in breathing.
- Heart issues: Heart issues, such as heart failure, may result in shortness of breath after eating. This is because the heart will have to do more work with digestion.
- Obesity: Obesity stresses the lungs and the chest. This leaves you out of breath and more so, after taking a lot of food.
- COVID-19: You may have trouble breathing after eating, particularly after having COVID-19 or currently having it. The virus can affect the lungs and may cause COVID chest pain.
Are Allergies Causing Shortness of Breath After Eating?
Shortness of breath after food can be caused by allergies. Your body responds fast when you ingest a food to which you are allergic. The immune system considers it toxic and discharges chemicals. This response may block the airways. You can also experience swelling of the lips and tongue. You need to seek medical attention immediately. Severe food allergies may result in serious issues.
Can Dehydration Cause Shortness of Breath After a Meal?
Shortness of breath following eating may be caused by dehydration. There is a lack of water in your body, which makes your blood thicker. Viscous blood is less capable of carrying oxygen. This leads to shortness of breath and exhaustion. You can breathe more easily when you drink a lot of water each day. Your heart can also work better. Thus, you must be hydrated when you get short of breath after meals.
Is COVID-Related Shortness of Breath After Eating?
COVID damages the lungs and renders them less capable of absorbing oxygen. Even with recovery, there are those individuals who continue to feel short of breath. Consuming a big meal can cause an additional strain to already strained lungs. You should visit your doctor in case you observe this symptom following COVID. Long-term damage may be excluded by lung function tests. Do not neglect breathing difficulties, particularly following a COVID infection.
ICD-10 Code for Shortness of Breath
The ICD-10 Code for Shortness of Breath is used by doctors to appropriately document health conditions.
- Shortness of breath is always coded as R06.02.
- This code assists doctors and hospitals in correctly monitoring the health condition of the patients.
- This code is also used by insurance companies when billing and making medical claims.
- When you experience shortness of breath, your doctor records this code.
- Proper coding will facilitate proper diagnosis and treatment.
When Should You Be Worried about Shortness of Breath after eating?
Shortness of breath after eating is a concern when it happens frequently, gets severe, accompanied by chest pain. Whether or not you experience swelling in your legs and fainting is also a matter of concern. Another warning sign is difficulty in breathing even when at rest. Such symptoms can indicate cardiac and pulmonary issues. You should not ignore them. Visit the doctor immediately to identify the cause and receive appropriate treatment.
When to Visit a Doctor
You should see a doctor if:
- After eating, you may experience shortness of breath frequently, and eating may seem challenging.
- The problem of shortness of breath continues to worsen over time. It does not disappear or improve.
- You experience chest pain and problems with breathing that may point to a severe underlying condition.
- You have some swelling in the legs or feet that is abnormal and tends to relate to health issues in the heart.
- You feel dizzy in addition to your breathing difficulties, this can be a sign of circulation or oxygen-related problems.
- You cannot breathe properly when lying down and resting. Your lungs and heart require immediate treatment when this happens to you.
These symptoms can cause a severe health issue with your heart and lungs.
Lifestyle Changes That Reduce Shortness of Breath After Meals
You can cope with mild shortness of breath after eating with only these changes:
- Have more frequent small meals rather than very large meals.
- Avoid food items that are usually responsible for causing allergies and difficulties in breathing and digestion.
- Consume sufficient clean water during the day to promote normal breathing.
- Minimise alcohol and eliminate pressure-causing carbonated beverages. Learn more about alcohol on your breath.
- Sit after meals rather than lie to make breathing comfortable.
- Eat well and exercise regularly to maintain a normal weight.
- Stress is something to be handled every day with breathing exercises, meditation, or any other form of relaxation.
These movements aid in the processing of food by your body and take the strain off your lungs.
Conclusion
Eating and then feeling short of breath is not an insignificant issue. This occurs sometimes due to overeating, dehydration, or allergies to food. It can be an indicator of potentially severe health issues like heart and lung issues related to COVID. Your symptoms should be diagnosed, and make some healthy lifestyle changes. Visit a doctor in case the issue persists. Breathing is essential to your body, so protect it if you detect some changes.
FAQs
1) Is shortness of breath after eating normal?
When you consume an excess of food or when you eat too quickly, you might experience some shortness of breath briefly. However, when it occurs frequently or when it is quite painful, then you should not neglect it. It can be associated with other medical issues.
2) Which foods cause shortness of breath?
Some of the common food items that cause shortness of breath include shellfish and gluten. These are foods that usually lead to allergic reactions. Acid reflux can also be increased by spicy foods and causing problems with breathing that may follow meals.
3) What can I do to avoid shortness of breath following food?
You need to take small meals, enough water, and avoid triggers. Do not sleep immediately after meals. Maintain good fitness and physical activity. In case it is caused by allergies or some medical conditions, consult your doctor.
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