Coughing After Meals: Shocking Warning That It Could Be a Sign of Cancer

Possibility of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)
Persistent Esophageal Irritation May Cause Cellular Mutations

There has been a warning that repeatedly coughing after meals could be a sign of cancer. If this symptom persists for several years, the risk of developing throat cancer, esophageal cancer, or thyroid cancer may double.

Recently, the UK’s Daily Mail reported that nutrition specialist Molly Pelletier shared this information through her social media account.

Pelletier warned that coughing after meals may not simply be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but could be laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

LPR is a condition in which stomach acid or stomach contents flow back up into the throat, causing irritation. In the UK, it affects about one in four people.

There is a muscle (lower esophageal sphincter) between the stomach and the esophagus that normally prevents stomach contents from flowing back into the esophagus, allowing food to travel downward. However, when stomach acid or stomach contents reflux toward the pharynx, it can cause various symptoms.

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Common symptoms include a sensation of a foreign body in the throat (pharyngeal globus), chronic cough, changes in voice (hoarseness), and throat pain. However, the typical symptoms of GERD, such as heartburn or acid regurgitation, often do not appear, which is why it is called "silent reflux."

According to research, if reflux disease persists for several years and stomach acid continuously flows back into the throat, the mucosal cells may be repeatedly irritated, potentially leading to cellular mutations. This can increase the risk of developing throat cancer, esophageal cancer, or thyroid cancer by about two times. In fact, approximately 28% of patients with laryngeal cancer have been found to suffer from reflux disease.

Pelletier advised that to prevent this, one should avoid eating for 2 to 3 hours before going to bed, eat slowly, and focus on thoroughly chewing food to avoid irritating the esophagus.

She also recommended limiting not only acidic foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, but also carbonated beverages. Drinking carbonated beverages can cause abdominal bloating, which in turn puts pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter and may trigger acid reflux. Excessive alcohol consumption and coffee intake are also known causes of acidic reflux.