Asthma and Acid Reflux
Is There a Connection Between Asthma and Reflux or GRD?
External triggers are not the only cause for an asthma attack.
Although it is very difficult to avoid triggers like pollen, animal hair, exercise or environment dust - imagine how difficult it gets when the trigger is your own body.
Researchers are finding that asthma and acid reflux are intertwined conditions that can influence each other, and make things worse. If you have asthma and acid reflux, it can be extremely difficult to deal with both.
Here are some facts about both conditions:
Acid Reflux or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GRD)
Acid Reflux, also called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GRD, is a condition in which acids from the stomach move backward or "reflux" into the esophagus. Reflux happens when muscles in the esophagus are weak and other protective mechanisms fail.
This can cause anything from a mild burning in the chest, sometimes known as heartburn, to pain bad enough to send a person to the nearest emergency room in terrible pain convinced they are having a heart attack.
Acid reflux is sometimes treated with an antacid, but if you have severe acid reflux your doctor will usually prescribe a stronger medication to control it.
Asthma
Asthma is a condition that is characterized by increased responsiveness of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (main airway) to some type of trigger that causes widespread narrowing of the airways that changes in severity either as a result of treatment, or spontaneously. This makes it difficult to do physical activity, breathe or talk normally.
Asthma attacks can be caused by many different triggers which can be pollen, dust, cold air, etc.
Combined Problem
Asthma can cause acid reflux, and vice versa. They have been found to bounce off of each other.
Changes in pressure in the lungs of the person having an asthma attack can cause acids from the stomach to get into the lungs. When the acid gets into the lungs, it causes constriction of the muscles, which leads to heartburn and asthma attack.
And sometimes an acid vapor escaping from the stomach can reach the lungs and start off an asthma attack.
How to avoid this
Controlling the acid reflux so it doesn't worsen the asthma is what is generally recommend today. No one so far has found one treatment that will take care of both problems at the same time.
Asthmatics can control acid reflux by:
- Avoiding stress
- Medicating
- Avoiding consumption of spicy foods
Acid reflux is a very difficult problem to suffer from besides asthma. The help of you doctor and the right drug will certainly make your life a lot easier. Your health insurance should cover it.
By controlling the acid reflux or GRD you can at least make sure they don’t lead to a situration where they trigger each other.