Reflux Asthma

2008-12-01 16:05:22

( Pharmeceutical-Medical )



If you don't have Asthma, consider yourself lucky. This is one of the most debilitating diseases today. During Asthma attacks, patients can experience shortness of breathe and a choking sensation. This is because the air passages become irritated. Asthma can be triggered by many things. These include exercise, low temperature atmosphere, infections in the respiratory system, and least commonly known, acid reflux. Most people will describe acid reflux as heartburn and that is somehow true.

Reflux asthma is caused when the digestive acid comes in contact with the esophagus where the air passage is. This constricts the air thereby limiting the patient's ability to breathe. Reflux asthma further aggravates asthma symptoms. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between reflux asthma and allergic asthma. Here are some guidelines to tell if it is an acid reflux asthma or not.

Reflux asthma is often related to the food ingested. Here are some foods that can induce reflux asthma. Chocolate, coffee, alcohol and generally high fat meals. Another clue that is is acid reflux asthma is the acidic taste in the patient's mouth. This is accompanied by asthma symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. With reflux asthma, you will also notice that attacks happen often when you are lying down. This is because acid in the stomach can travel towards the esophagus.

Diagnosing reflux asthma includes the use of esophagus pH tests that will cross reference the amount of acid in the esophagus in the event of the asthma attacks. The information gathered in this method can then be used in treating reflux asthma.

Treating reflux asthma is almost the same as treating allergic asthma. However, a better method is to have a fit body. This will include healthy diet and proper exercise. Elevated position of the head while sleeping can also help.


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