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By: Elizabeth Radisson
Asthma is among several diseases that cause great discomfort and even disabilities to millions of sufferers across the globe. Now health professionals have been noticing a rather consistent connection between asthma and another bothersome condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or more generally known as acid reflux. The incidence of these two ailments forms an ominous combination of symptoms that are certain to increase the irritation caused by either disease alone. Numerous things can trigger an asthma attack in those who are prone to this lung disease. For some it takes as little as a small puff of cold breeze, a little whiff of dust, or a stressful situation, among many other factors. Now it has been discovered that acid reflux can also trigger asthma episodes, particularly in adult patients. Acid Reflux: What is it? When people eat, the food goes through the mouth to the stomach through the throat and the esophagus. The esophagus is a narrow tube that connects the throat to the stomach. In some people, the esophagus can get irritated and swollen because of acid from the stomach backing up into the throat. This backing up of acid is known as acid reflux. Acid reflux can reach high up the throat, causing even more irritation and discomfort or triggering other illnesses such as asthma. What are the causes of Acid Reflux? Acid reflux may be caused by a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. The LES acts as the gatekeeper of the stomach. When people swallow, the LES opens to allow food particles and liquid into the stomach. Once food has passed through, the LES shuts back up to keep the stomach's contents from returning to the esophagus. People that have acid reflux may have a defective LES, which does not seal properly or opens at the wrong times. This causes acid and some digested food particles to return to the esophagus, causing a burning sensation due to irritation. This results in a condition that most people refer to as heartburn. How are Acid Reflux and Asthma Related? It has been observed by many doctors specializing in asthma that people with asthma are also more likely to have a defective LES. Furthermore, many reports have revealed that people with asthma who were treated for acid reflux also experienced some relief from the symptoms of asthma. Acid reflux triggers asthma symptoms in two ways. First, acid reflux may cause people to breathe small droplets of acid into their lungs without them knowing it. This acid can aggravate the fragile pulmonary lining and cause spasms in the bronchi or airways, which in turn can result in an asthma attack. Second, frequent episodes of acid reflux may cause digestive acid to dissolve the esophageal lining and expose some parts of significant nerves that are connected to the lungs. The irritation of the nerve endings have been observed to also trigger the constriction of airways, which could then result in an asthma attack. Is Acid Reflux Causing Your Asthma? Asthmatic people may recognize that their asthma attacks are connected with acid reflux if their asthma started in their adult years. Acid reflux is also suspected if asthma symptoms become more noticeable after eating a meal, at night, and after some time lying down. It can also be noticeable if the usual asthma treatments are ineffective. With the connection between asthma and acid reflux being recognized, it is therefore prudent to check for gastroesophageal reflux disease. The blending of these two diseases can significantly hamper the quality of one's lifestyle and thus early detection is necessary.
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Liz Radisson is a contributor to www.OurGoodHealth.org , a website devoted to providing knowledgeable articles and other resources about health-related issues. For more information about acid reflux, visit www.OurGoodHealth.org/acid-reflux
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