What Causes Shortness of Breath After Eating?

Medically reviewed and edited by Jonathan Guirguis, DO

Shortness of breath is typically caused by heart, lung, or digestive issues. COVID-19 patients also frequently experience shortness of breath as a symptom of the virus.

While it’s normal to be out of breath after a run or some other physically strenuous activity, the sudden onset of shortness of breath may indicate an underlying condition or medical emergency.

Not being able to breathe properly can cause stress and anxiety — especially if it occurs after you’ve finished a meal.

In this article, we’ll go into detail about shortness of breath after eating. We’ll explain what causes it, how it can be prevented, and when you should see a doctor.

What is Shortness of Breath?

Also known as dyspnea or breathlessness, shortness of breath refers to the sensation of not being able to breathe properly or get sufficient oxygen into your lungs.

Shortness of breath can cause discomfort or be downright terrifying — especially for someone who is prone to asthma attacks or heart attacks. Sudden shortness of breath needs immediate medical attention.

You may also experience shortness of breath for many other reasons, including:

• Higher altitudes

• Poor physical health or obesity

• Overexertion

• Anemia

• Pneumonia

• Lung cancer

• Tuberculosis

• COVID-19

• Pulmonary embolism (PE)

• Inhalation injuries (for example, breathing in a foreign object or substance)

Shortness of breath can occur at any time, but certain body positions may trigger it.

You may experience shortness of breath when you:

• Lie down: This may happen in people who have heart failure.

• Wake up in the middle of the night: This may also indicate heart failure.

• Lie on your left or right side.

• Stand up (though this is rare).

You can also experience shortness of breath after you’ve consumed a meal. We’ll go into more detail on this below.

Which shortness of breath symptoms require medication attention?

If you've just finished a hike or you’ve been running on the treadmill for the past hour, some breathlessness is expected. However, there are certain times when shortness of breath is a symptom of a medical emergency.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention:

• Your breathlessness persists after resting for 30 minutes.

• Your shortness of breath worsens.

• Chest pain accompanies your shortness of breath — this may indicate a collapsed lung.

• You have a bluish tinge to the lips and skin known as cyanosis — this indicates a lack of oxygen.

• You’re dizzy or feel like fainting.

• You have an altered mental state

• You’re nauseous or are vomiting.

• Your shortness of breath starts suddenly.

What Does Shortness of Breath Feel Like?

Shortness of breath can be a frightening sensation, especially for those experiencing it for the first time.

Depending on the reason behind your shortness of breath, one or more of the following symptoms may appear:

• You cannot take a full breath no matter how deeply or quickly you try to inhale.

• The number of breaths you take per minute increases.

• You experience chest tightness or feel like you’re suffocating.

• Your lips and airways begin to swell, making it harder to breathe.

• You start wheezing and grunting with the effort to breathe.

Feeling out of breath after exercise or exertion is not usually dangerous, but you may be suffering from shortness of breath if you experience chronic breathlessness during exercise.

Shortness of Breath After Eating: What are the Causes?

Experiencing breathing difficulties after eating can be alarming and can happen for a vareiety of reasons.

Here are some reasons you may have trouble breathing after a meal:

Overeating

When you eat too much — especially beans, cabbage, or spicy foods — this could lead to bloating or pressure in the abdomen.

This bloating may prevent the diaphragm — the dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the lungs that’s essential for breathing — from properly contracting and flattening as you inhale and exhale.

If your diaphragm cannot move in its normal way, your lungs will struggle to expand and contract, causing breathing difficulties.

Obesity

When you have extra fat on your neck, abdomen, and chest, you may experience breathing difficulties and symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness.

People who struggle with this can have worsening symptoms at night, and they may choke or grunt with the effort of breathing.

Some people with obesity are affected by obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). Those with OHS have too much carbon dioxide in their blood and too little oxygen. OHS occurs if the brain doesn’t have proper control over breathing.

Allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)

If you experience a severe allergic reaction, your airways can constrict, making breathing difficult.

Research shows that 5% of the U.S. population have experienced anaphylaxis, but less than 1% of them have experienced fatalities from an episode.

If you’re about to have an anaphylactic reaction, shortness of breath will likely be the first symptom of this severe allergic reaction.

There are an estimated 32 million people in the U.S. with food allergies and around 200,000 hospitalizations occur each year due to anaphylaxis. Shellfish, milk, and peanuts are the three most common allergies in the U.S.If you’ve ever had hives (itchy, raised patches of skin) after consuming seafood, milk, or any other food products, you should probably do an allergy test.

People with diagnosed food allergies can avoid the consequences of severe reactions by carrying an epinephrine auto-injector with them. An anaphylaxis reaction requires immediate medical attention.

Respiratory infections

When the lungs and airways are infected, you may experience shortness of breath. Inflammation, mucus, and phlegm can make it difficult to breathe.

Bronchitis, pneumonia, and COVID-19 are three examples of respiratory infections that can cause shortness of breath.

Choking on or inhaling food

If you accidentally breathe food into your lungs or airways, you may experience shortness of breath as a symptom.

Inhaling food particles can lead to serious health complications, such as lung inflammation, infections, or choking.

When you swallow something and it goes down the wrong way, it’s called aspiration.

Some symptoms of aspiration include:

• The sensation of food being stuck in your throat.

• The feeling of food re-entering your mouth.

• Difficulty or pain when swallowing.

• Wheezing or coughing after you’ve eaten.

Aspiration may also have no obvious symptoms. This is known as silent aspiration. In this case, eating, drinking, or throwing up may trigger symptoms that seem unrelated to aspiration. These symptoms include heartburn and hoarseness.

Hiatal hernia (paraesophageal hernia)

A hernia occurs when an organ or tissue bulges into a part of the body where it shouldn't be.

A hiatal hernia involves the stomach pushing up into the chest and through the muscle that separates the abdomen and diaphragm.

A paraesophageal hernia occurs when the stomach pushes up beside the esophagus. When this hernia grows too large, it can force the diaphragm to squeeze the lungs — which leads to chest pains and shortness of breath. Eating may worsen these symptoms.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

This digestive disorder involves the esophageal muscles. The muscles in the esophagus are meant to constrict to keep the food in the stomach after eating.

However, if someone has GERD, the valve between the esophagus and stomach does not close completely. This allows the stomach contents to reenter the esophagus, causing heartburn.

People who have asthma have a greater likelihood of developing GERD.

If stomach acid affects the esophageal nerve endings, the lung’s airways may narrow, triggering shortness of breath and other asthma symptoms. This is known as GERD-related asthma.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is a chronic lung disease that makes it difficult for air to flow in and out of the lungs.

The condition gets worse over time, but you can control the symptoms associated with it. The disease is typically caused by smoking.

Some of the symptoms of COPD include:

• Coughing and wheezing

• Chest tightness

• Regular respiratory infections

• Low energy

• Weight loss

• Shortness of breath during physical activity

Is Shortness of Breath a Life-Threatening Condition?

Shortness of breath isn’t typically a life-threatening condition, but depending on what’s causing it, you may need immediate medical attention.

For example, shortness of breath after eating may be a sign of severe food allergies. In this case, you’ll need to go to the hospital.

If you experience any of the following symptoms along with shortness of breath, seek medical attention:

• Changes in skin color, especially bluish lips

• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

• Severe breathlessness

• Sudden difficulty breathing

Could It Be COVID-19?

Shortness of breath is a common symptom of COVID-19 and Long COVID. The feeling of being winded or breathless may continue for a while after you’ve recovered from your illness.

Lying on your stomach and turning your head to the side may bring relief from shortness of breath caused by COVID-19, as this position lowers the weight of other organs that might be pressing against your lungs and preventing you from breathing properly.

Speak to a healthcare provider about how to treat shortness of breath related to COVID-19.

Concerned about COVID-19?

Book an online appointment with a doctor now to get your symptoms assessed.

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How Do I Prevent Shortness of Breath After Eating?

Shortness of breath after eating doesn’t typically require treatment, but here are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of experiencing it:

• Eating smaller meals that don’t cause bloating and discomfort.

• Losing weight so that extra fat on your stomach and chest doesn’t push against your lungs.

• Getting tested for food allergies.

• Talking to your doctor about carrying an epinephrine auto-injector with you at all times and ensuring you know how to use it.

• Eating slower and chewing your food properly.

• Eating foods that are easier to digest.

• Controlling your GERD, asthma, or another condition that may be causing your shortness of breath.

Where Can I Learn More About Shortness of Breath?

Whether food allergies, stomach acid, or asthma are to blame for your shortness of breath, LifeMD is here to help. Head over to LifeMD — and get ready to speak to a board-certified doctor or nurse practitioner from your smartphone or computer.

Jonathan Guirguis, DO

Dr. Guirguis attended Nova Southeastern University for medical school and stayed in South Florida to train in Internal Medicine. Born outside Chicago, he slowly made his way down south, settling in Texas with his wife and three children.

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