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Acid Reflux Cough – Could Your Cough Be More Serious Than You Think?

September 30th, 2008 | Add a Comment

Few people are aware of this, but studies have shown that acid reflux is one of the leading cause of a nagging cough. In fact, only bronchial asthma and post-nasal drip cause more cases of a chronic cough.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the medical term for what we know as acid reflux. Acid, bile, and pepsin make up the substance of the regurgitated liquid.

The symptoms of acid reflux include nausea, burping, a sore throat, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, a pain in the chest that’s often mistaken as a heart attack, and in some cases chronic coughing. In fact, nearly three out of every four sufferers experience night time symptoms (such as coughing, snoring, and chest pain) that are not usually thought of as typical acid reflux symptoms. An acid reflux cough is one of these. When stomach acid rises to the vocal cords and is passed to the lower airway, a chronic cough can be the outcome.

Coughing can be induced even when tiny quantities of acid are passed up to the vocal cords. This is why it’s so easy to overlook the connection between acid reflux and a chronic cough, because there’s often so little acid needed that no other symptoms become apparent. In fact, they may not even have heartburn in the traditional sense, considering that there’s little or no damage to the lining of the esophagus when the acid level is so limited.

But how do you distinguish between a typical cough, traceable to a cold or the such, and an acid reflux cough? If you aren’t experiencing any other symptoms, such as the sniffles or throat irritation, that are usually connected with a cold or bronchitis and such, that’s an indication that something else is at play. Though you can experience an acid reflux cough without experiencing any of the other symptoms of GERD, if you’re experiencing both, then it’s time to visit with your doctor. He can help you learn whether or not your cough is acid reflux related.

If you’re searching for an addition confirmation that what you’re going through isn’t a common cough, there is another clue. Most people will turn to cough syrup when they have a chronic cough. Surprisingly, an acid reflux cough likely won’t respond to cough syrup. Yet, it may very well respond to an antacid. If you find that’s the case in your situation, then that’s a big time clue of the cause behind your cough.

Beyond antacids, your physician may want to prescribe something stronger. If your acid reflux is serious, this may include a proton pump inhibitor such as Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, or Aciphex. These medications are designed to block acid production, which allows the lining of the esophagus an opportunity to mend. Side effects, however, can include abdominal pain, diarrhea and headaches.

When your chronic cough is the consequence of a moderate case of acid reflux, you may only need to make a few lifestyle changes in order to get it under control. For example, it helps if you eat six smaller meals during the day instead of three big meals. You’ll want to avoid foods that are commonly associated with GERD, such as chocolate, dairy products, fried foods, and citrus fruits. These little modifications may very well be all you need to put an end to your acid reflux cough.