Could a ministroke cause my ninetysix yr old father to cough frequently when eating or drinking like maybe the epiglottis isn't working?

Answer 1

Yes it can. The affects of a stroke and also a mini stroke can cause the swallowing reflex to diminish or be reduced. With normal swallowing, when the food or drink arrives at the back of the throat, just before it passes over the entrance to the windpipe, the epiglottis which is a small flap closes over the windpipe entrance to prevent food and liquids from entering. If this reflex is not there or is slower than normal then the liquid may enter the windpipe and cause a coughing fit. In severe cases a person can choke. The thing to do is to give cold thicker fluids like ice-cream using a small spoon. Because it is cold, the patient can feel it going down more easily and because it is thicker it runs down more slowly giving the reflex chance to happen. This will excercise the reflex and hopefully help it to return. You can buy a thickener from a drug store which will enable you to thicken most fluids. There is something not quite right about drinking thickend coffee etc. but it should only be for a short time. Sometimes, the reflex can return in a matter of hours but more often takes 4 or 5 days. After a severe stroke, it may never return and a hospital admission will be needed for something called a Gastrostomy. Hope this helps.