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What's the connection between acid reflux and coughing?

Acid reflux is a condition that occurs when acid from the stomach moves upward into the food pipe. The acid causes irritation of the tissue lining, which leads to heartburn – a burning sensation in the chest.

The American College of Gastroenterology estimate that over 60 million Americans experience heartburn a minimum of once a month. Some research indicates that over 15 million Americans may experience heartburn every day.

Heartburn that occurs more than twice a week can lead to a diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can cause ulcers and permanent damage if left untreated. GERD also increases the risk of esophageal cancer.

Heartburn is the most common symptom of acid reflux or GERD but a chronic cough is also a symptom.

Acid reflux and coughing.

Chronic coughing is usually defined as a cough that lasts for 8 weeks or longer.

Although chronic coughing is not a typical symptom of acid reflux, GERD is associated with at least 25 percentTrusted Source of cases of chronic cough, according to some research. Other research suggests GERD is a factor in 40 percentTrusted Source of people who have a chronic cough.

While a link exists between chronic cough and GERD, it does not mean that GERD is always the cause of the cough. Chronic cough is a common problem, and a person may simply have these two conditions at the same time.

How reflux leads to coughing

Of course, in some cases, chronic cough may be caused or made worse by acid reflux. There are two possible mechanismsTrusted Source to explain this occurrence.

The first suggests that a cough occurs as a reflexive action set off by the rising of stomach acid into the food pipe.

The second mechanism proposes that reflux moves above the food pipe and causes tiny droplets of stomach acid to land in the voice box or throat. This type of reflux is known as laryngeal pharyngeal reflux (LPR). LPR may lead to the development of a cough as a protective mechanism against the reflux.

LPR

LPR, also known as silent reflux or atypical reflux, is similar to GERD, although it frequently has different symptoms.

When stomach acid comes into contact with the vocal cords and throat, it can cause inflammation leading to symptoms such as:

coughing

hoarseness

throat clearing

the feeling that something is stuck in the throat

The amount of stomach acid needed to irritate the lining of the throat and voice box is quite small. Only 50 percent of those with LPR experience heartburn.

Treatment for a chronic cough caused by acid reflux aims to reduce the reflux that is causing or worsening the coughing. This is often done through medication.

Lifestyle and dietary changes are also quite effective, particularly for those with mild to moderate symptoms. In severe cases of reflux, surgery may be considered.

Lifestyle changes

People with chronic cough caused by acid reflux can try making the following lifestyle changes to improve their symptoms:

Maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI): This can reduce some of the pressure on the stomach, lessening the amount of stomach acid forced up the food pipe.

Wearing loose clothing: This reduces pressure on the stomach.

Stopping smoking: Smokers are at a higher risk of developing GERD.

Eating slowly and avoiding overeating: Large meals inhibit the closure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), allowing stomach acid to rise up into the food pipe.

Not lying down after or during meals: People should wait for approximately 3 hours before lying down after meals.

Elevating the head of the bed: Those with nighttime acid reflux could try raising the head of their bed with blocks or wooden wedges. Doing so may lessen the amount of rising acid.

Dietary changes

Some foods and drinks trigger acid reflux. The most common offenders are:

alcohol

caffeine

chocolate

citrus

fried foods

garlic

high-fat foods

mint

onions

spicy foods

tomatoes and tomato-based foods

Food triggers vary from person to person, so keeping a diary of food intake and symptoms can be a useful way for people to discover which foods contribute to symptoms.

If a cough persists for 3 weeks without improving, a doctor should be consulted.

Medical advice should also be sought if the cough is severe or gets worse, is accompanied by blood or chest pain, or if it is difficult to breathe.

A cough associated with other symptoms of acid reflux or LPR should also be seen by a doctor.

(10/16/2021)
by Medical News Today

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