What causes shortness of breath after eating?

The four most common conditions likely to cause shortness of breath after eating are

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Food allergies
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• a Hiatal hernia.

COPD is a progressive lung disease that is more common in people who smoke. The lungs in people with COPD can become hyper-inflated, taking up more room in the chest cavity. Over-filled stomachs can push against the lungs, causing shortness of breath. In addition, the energy required by people with COPD to digest food can also cause significant breathlessness. Inhalers and other medications can help manage COPD symptoms.

GERD is a digestive disorder that affects the band of tissue (sphincter) that separates our esophagus from our stomach. In people with GERD, stomach acid creeps up the esophagus through the faulty sphincter and towards the airways. This can cause inflammation, narrowing, and swelling leading to shortness of breath. Medications that lower acid production usually help.

Shortness of breath after eating isn’t a common symptom of food allergies unless the person also has asthma or is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, which is a severe type of reaction. If you regularly get short of breath after eating certain foods, keep a food diary to try and identify the most likely cause and talk to your doctor about it. If your shortness of breath is severe and you can’t breathe, go to the emergency room.

A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach bulges up through the hole (hiatus) through which your food tube (esophagus) passes before connecting with your stomach. A small hiatal hernia usually doesn’t cause any symptoms, but a large one can increase pressure around your lungs causing shortness of breath. Medications to relieve heartburn may be tried but sometimes a hiatal hernia requires surgery.