Those who suffer from acid reflux (GERD) will tell you that though the main problems revolve around the digestive system, there are other things within the body that can be affected by excess acid. The connection between the symptoms of GERD and other maladies is hard to find at first, and this means most think they have two, or even three, unrelated problems. There are times though, when treating one can help with treatment of the other. If you are having problems with your respiratory system, you should know about the GERD asthma connection.
GERD and asthma
If you look around for information on the link between GERD and asthma, you are going to find that some believe GERD causes asthma in some people, and other who are of the opinion that it just makes pre-existing asthma worse.
Whatever the case, the outcome is still the same. Asthma can be very detrimental to your quality of life, and in some cases, it can be a very serious condition. Learning how to get GERD under control can help with the symptoms and severity of asthma in some patients.
Before you can try to reduce problems with GERD and asthma, you have to understand what the connection is. You may already be aware that the acid from the stomach can damage the lining of the esophagus, which causes a lot of the pain associated with acid reflux, but you may not know that this acid can leak into the lungs as well.
This generally happens when GERD is left untreated. The acid can reflux up the esophagus and be inhaled into the lungs, usually when a patient is lying down, and can do damage to the tissues within the lungs. This is called aspiration.
The acid can damage the tissues of the esophagus, but they do have ways to fight back. The tissues of the lungs, however, are very vulnerable. This means the acid is going to cause serious damage in a short amount of time. This can lead to asthma, or to a worsening of a pre-existing case. There is another theory other than the acid entering the lungs while sleeping that makes some sense.
Some asthma medications may act as a muscle relaxant, loosening the Lower Esophageal Sphincter muscle that separates the stomach and the esophagus, making reflux worse. If you have asthma and take medication, you might want to talk with your doctor about that possibility.
Solutions
Change your diet
One of the best ways to stop GERD from aggravating asthma is to get the acid reflux under control. This can be done in a variety of ways, the easiest and least expensive option being changing your diet. You can also take over the counter acid blocker, or one prescribed by a doctor if they think a stronger version is needed.
Once the acid production is slowed down, the amount being aspirated into the lungs will lessen. You can also watch how much you eat and when you eat it. Eating smaller meals that digest quickly will lessen the amount of acid in the stomach, and try to avoid eating 3 – 4 hours before bedtime.
Sleeping habits
You should also take a look at your bedroom and sleeping habits. You may cope with your GERD asthma symptoms much more easily if you have found a way to keep down the amount of allergens in the air. Dust mites, and other minute particles floating around in the air can greatly aggravate your already damaged and inflamed tissues. Look for ways to cut down on the amount of allergens in your home, and raise your head and chest while sleeping. This helps to keep acid from refluxing at night.
