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It’s Not Just Heartburn and Wheezing: Asthma and Acid Reflux
If you are living with asthma, you know how difficult it can be to be around specific triggers that can cause an attack. A friend’s cat or dog, or even dandelions are dangers to your breathing, but imagine having a trigger within your own body.
Researchers are finding that asthma and acid reflux are intertwined conditions that negatively impact each other. If you have asthma and acid reflux, it can be extremely difficult to deal with both. Here are some facts about both conditions:
Asthma
Asthma is a disease that causes constriction in the lining of the bronchial tubes. When they constrict, it makes it difficult to do any physical activity, let alone breathe or even talk. Asthma is caused by a slough of triggers, and what causes attacks are different for every sufferer.
Acid Reflux
Acid reflux is a condition in which stomach acid is going the wrong way up, heading toward the mouth. This can cause a mild burning in the chest, sometimes known as heartburn. Acid reflux is usually treated with an antacid, but if you have severe acid reflux your doctor will usually prescribe a stronger medication to control it.
Combined Problem
Asthma and acid reflux has been found to bounce off of each other. One condition can cause the other, and vice versa. When you have an asthma attack, changes in pressure occur in your lungs, thus causing the acidic fluids from your stomach to redirect towards your lungs. When the acid gets into the lungs, it can cause constriction of the muscles, thus leading to an asthma attack as well as heartburn.
What Can Be Done
Because asthmatics are more likely to suffer from acid reflux, and asthma and acid reflux can be a double problem for them. Researchers have not yet found a treatment that will take care of the two problems, but they do suggest controlling your acid reflux so it doesn’t worsen your asthma. This can be done with medications, avoiding consumption of spicy foods, as well as trying to avoid stress.
With all the problems in your life, your breathing shouldn’t be one of them. It is hard enough to deal with stress in a healthy way, and with your body reacting negatively, you have to be certain to take care of both your asthma and acid reflux to make sure they don’t act on each other.
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