Dysphagia, Swallowing Disorders, and Cough

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Pulmonology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Cough and dysphagia are nonspecific symptoms with multifactorial etiologies.
• Understanding the physiological interplay between cough and swallowing is crucial for diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship between cough and dysphagia.
• To review the literature on disorders linking cough and swallowing.
• To discuss potential treatment options for cough related to swallowing dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of conditions involving cough and dysphagia.
• Examination of the physiology of cough in relation to swallowing.
• Synthesis of information on aspiration, cervical diverticula, esophageal motility, eosinophilic esophagitis, and aging.

Main Results:

• Cough and dysphagia share common underlying causes and physiological mechanisms.
• Specific conditions like aspiration, eosinophilic esophagitis, and age-related changes significantly impact this relationship.
• Evidence-based treatment data for cough outcomes in these swallowing disorders is currently limited.

Conclusions:

• The link between cough and dysphagia is complex and warrants further investigation.
• Targeting underlying swallowing disorders may alleviate cough symptoms.
• More research is needed to establish robust treatment guidelines for cough associated with dysphagia.