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The Relation Between Asthma And Acid
Reflux
Some Studies indicate that a connection exists between asthma
and acid reflux. People who suffer from asthma get acid reflux
more often than people without asthma. Before looking at the
asthma-reflux connection, it will be pertinent to take a look
at the nature of the two diseases.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic health condition in which the airways
become inflamed and sensitive, and react to certain stimuli
(agents or triggers). These triggers include animal dander,
pollen, cigarette smoke, cold air, certain smells, and even
strong emotions. The lining of the airways swells and produces
extra quantity of mucus. Coughing, wheezing, chest tightness,
shortness of breath or rapid breathing are the symptoms
experienced by the asthmatics. In severe cases, patients can’t
breathe and may die if prompt treatment is not provided.
Acid Reflux
In acid reflux, stomach acids flow backward into the esophagus
due to the relaxation or looseness of the lower esophageal
sphincter (LES). Acid reflux is characterized by the most
common symptom of heartburn i.e. a burning sensation in the
chest or throat. Other symptoms include difficulty in
swallowing, cramping, sore throat, hoarseness and so on. Drug
treatment works in most cases of acid reflux but surgery might
be required in severe cases.
Asthma And Acid Reflux Connection
The findings that acid reflux is experienced in as many as 70 %
of patients with asthma is thought evoking. The exact cause of
this co-occurrence is not clear but several theories have been
formulated to explain this connection between asthma and acid
reflux.
The most plausible view of explaining the connection is that
significant pressure changes occur in the chest during
breathing in asthmatic people. These high pressures could force
the stomach liquid to travel up the esophagus, resulting in
reflux symptoms. The effect of reflux on asthma is that the
regurgitating acid may irritate the lungs and further aggravate
asthma, which indeed has been observed in patients of
asthma.
There have been studies in which acid was injected in the
esophagus of people with asthma. The result was a significant
impact on their asthma and an increase in their asthma
symptoms. This appears to imply that acid reflux is an
important cause of asthma worsening. But research evidence does
not support this inference. Given this causal connection
between asthma and acid reflux, treatments against acid reflux
should make the asthma better, which is generally not the
case.
Careful treatment of reflux might make the breathing better but
not necessarily. It is best to seek a doctor who uses natural
methods to treat acid reflux. This is because taking drugs for
both asthma and acid reflux at the same time may cause
additional health problems in future.
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