When i choke on water and food i can't cough why is that i feel it in my thought but can't cough ?

Set-Up For Pneumonia: I'm surprised you're still alive. Where does that food and water go if you don't cough it up? Maybe you're saying it gets kind-of far back in your throat or something, but if it affecting your breathing, the natural response would be to gag and cough. Now, some people are born with a suppressed gag reflex and don't gag much. Older people can get it from a stroke.But if you can't cough,that's tough