The oesophagus is a highly specialised muscular tube, whose function is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach, where the process of digestion starts. This requires an efficient and coordinated process. Due to its proximity to the lungs, disorders of the oesophagus may present to the respiratory physician and may be wrongly treated as respiratory disorders.
Chronic cough is defined as cough that persists for more than 8 weeks. Its exact prevalence has proved difficult to estimate and recurrent cough is reported by 3-40% of the population1-4
It is also a common reason for attendance to a health clinic and can be very difficult to treat.
Chronic cough may be due to underlying oesophageal disorders
This review article discusses the oesophageal disorders that can present with respiratory symptoms.
The oesophagus and the Lungs
24th August 2024
| Authors | Affiliations |
|---|---|
| Anca Bucur | Senior Clinical Fellow, Respiratory Medicine, Stepping Hill Hospital, Poplar Grove, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire, SK2 7JE |
| Svetlana Arangelova | Consultant Acute Medicine, Stepping Hill Hospital Stockport |
