The Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Acid Reflux Cough

The usual process of digestion is as follows – when we chew food, it passes from the esophagus into the stomach, the acids present in the stomach break down the food particles to help in easy digestion. A valve known as lower esophageal sphincter is present between the esophagus and the stomach which prevents the acid from refluxing into the esophagus. If an acid reflux happens, then it can have severe consequences. Coughing is one of the several symptoms as well as after-effects of acid reflux and having been diagnosed with acid reflux cough does not mean that the person is sure to suffer from acid reflux. Almost 30% of the people experiencing a chronic cough problem have been diagnosed with an acid reflux cough.

Basically, when acid flows back into the esophagus, reflexes can cause a spasm between the airways which can result in a shortness of breath and coughing. Coughing can also occur when certain nerves within the esophagus get irritated. During coughing, if the refluxed acid enters the throat then it can result in sever swelling of the throat and can even damage the throat tissue. If the refluxed acid enters the lungs, then this condition is known as aspiration and can result in severe coughing and choking. It can severely damage the lung tissue and can lead to conditions such as fibrosis and pneumonia. Heart conditions such as nitrates and beta blockers are also said to be responsible in causing acid reflux cough

The usual over the counter medications do not work in case of acid reflux cough and treatment under a doctor specializing in pulmonary and chest infections is necessary.  Consuming an antacid before meals or after meals can help to reduce the risk of heartburn but does not eliminate its possibility totally and as such, one cannot totally rely on this option on a long term basis. A bronchodilator might be prescribed to the patient as it can relax the air passages and can also help to cure coughing. Several tests are also to be performed on the patient to determine the most effective treatment.

Acid reflux cough needs to be treated immediately as neglecting the condition can result in serious medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes. Acid reflux cough can also result in inflammation and erosion of the esophagitis and can even lead to thinning down of the esophagus which can have severe impact on the entire digestion process resulting in a lot of health problems and as such it is highly recommended to visit a doctor as soon as one experiences chronic cough and receive the necessary medication.

A healthy and balanced diet, maintaining fitness, complete elimination of habits such as smoking or tobacco and consuming meals on time might slowly cure acid reflux. It is very important to control acid reflux cough in the beginning itself as it might later on lead to serious conditions such as heartburn and several other ailments.