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Asthma is among many diseases that have caused great distress and even disabilities to a large number of sufferers worldwide. Now health professionals have been noticing a rather consistent relationship 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 blend of symptoms that are sure to increase the irritation caused by either disease alone. Several things can trigger an asthma attack in those people 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 tense situation, among many other factors. Now it has been discovered that acid reflux can also trigger asthma episodes, especially in adult patients. What is Acid Reflux? 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 become irritated and tender because acid from the stomach backs up. This backing up of acid is known as acid reflux. Acid reflux can reach high up the throat, causing even more swelling and discomfort or triggering other illnesses such as asthma. Acid Reflux: What Causes It? 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 closes up to keep the stomach's contents from returning to the esophagus. Acid reflux sufferers 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 feeling of burning due to irritation. This results in a condition that most people refer to as heartburn. The Connection between Acid Reflux and Asthma 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 reprieve from the symptoms of asthma. Acid reflux triggers asthma symptoms in two ways. First, acid reflux may cause people to breathe minute droplets of acid into their lungs without them knowing it. This acid can aggravate the extremely delicate pulmonary lining and cause spasms in the bronchi or airways, which in turn can result in an asthma attack. Second, repeated episodes of acid reflux may cause digestive acid to dissolve the esophageal lining and expose some parts of important 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? Asthmatics may know 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 typical asthma treatments do not work. With the relationship between asthma and acid reflux being recognized, it is therefore prudent to check for GERD. The combination of these two diseases can significantly hinder the quality of one's lifestyle and therefore early detection is necessary.
Article Source: http://www.klienwachter.com
Elizabeth Radisson is the editor of www.OurGoodHealth.org . OurGoodHealth is devoted to providing informative articles about health-related issues. For more information about www.OurGoodHealth.org/acid-reflux
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