system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do we drink water after coughing if our windpipe controls our respiratory system and the water goes down our esophagus?
gpt
coughing is normally a natural attempt to remove irritants from the respiratory system, this can include the top of the windpipe used for both breathing and food intake, additional coughing make make the throat sore. Drinking water may reduce the coughing response by soothing the throat and putting a temporary halt to the cough response.