Why do we drink water after coughing if our windpipe controls our respiratory system and the water goes down our esophagus?
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Aspiration occurs while parts of the bolus are passing the faucial pillars and no “swallow reflex” kicks in. When you aspirate, the body begins to cough prior to hitting the vocal folds. Anything that gets past your vocal folds is considered aspirated. When you swallow and everything works properly, your body coordinates swallowing while your epiglottis simultaneous folds to cover the airway, therefor allowing it to go behind the airway and down your esophagus to your stomach.
Your larynx is your “voice box” consider that one path in your throat
Your pharynx connects to the esophagus, the second path to your stomach.
Drinking water when your hacking stuff up is usually because drinking water helps to “thin” the mucous and keep you hacking it up.
Source: my masters degree in speech pathology
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