Acid Reflux » asthma

Chronic Cough: A Cough Linked to GERD or Acid Reflux

tuan megai — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:32:30 +0000

Chronic Cough

Chronic cough is described as a kind of cough that constantly recurs. It is not considered as a type of ailment but it is believed that this is an indication that you are suffering from other kinds of diseases. It is a kind of condition that prompts anyone to consult their physicians. Learn whether it is a cause or it is caused by acid reflux.

Sources of chronic cough

The most normal sources of chronic cough include the following:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux. This causes chronic cough due to the acid that progress toward the rear through the esophagus. Reactions lead to contraction of the air passage. Simply put, the air passage is blocked by the stomach acid thus resulting to chronic coughing.
Sinus conditions. This problem is often hard to identify. An individual will be required to undergo CT scan to properly diagnose the problem.
Contamination which include bronchitis or pneumonia. This is also tagged as another cause of chronic cough due to the virus, bacteria or fungus that affects the air passage or even the lungs. Viral contaminations do not usually react to antibiotics. This is the reason why some persons with asthma commonly have prolonged coughing even if the contamination had been cleaned.
Medications. Medicines like inhibitors given to persons with hypertension can also result to chronic cough.
Other causes. In some very exceptional cases, chronic cough is caused by breathing polluted entities through your lungs and is very common in children. It may also be a result of excessive cigarette smoking.

If you are suffering from chronic cough, it is advised that you should submit for an x-ray to determine its real cause. Your doctors will then be able to diagnose your condition. In like manner, he may be able to recommend treatment for your existing ordeal.

Treatments for chronic cough

The medication given to persons with chronic cough is established according to its source. On the other hand, there are individuals who are given some medicines with guaifenesin or dextromethorphan to relieve symptomatic cough. Individuals suffering from chronic cough are also advised to consume a lot of water or use an inhaling steam. Taking cough lozenges are of great help as well. In some serious conditions a physician may give the patient codeine – a medication considered successful in suppressing cough.

The treatment for chronic cough will vary according to the ailment or symptoms being experienced by the individual. For instance, take a look at the following:

People with asthma are given bronchodilators and steroids to reduce the possible irritation of the air passageways.
For individuals with GERD or acid reflux, treatment involves keeping away from foods that can enhance reflux. The patient is advised to evade from eating prior to bedtime. Raising the pillow when sleeping and taking medicines like Pepcid, Tagamet or Zantac will also lessen stomach acidity.

For persons with sinus condition, decongestants and antihistamines are recommended to cure the signs of post nasal drip.

Asthma: Learning About A Disease Linked to Acid Reflux

tuan megai — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:55:20 +0000

There are a lot of conditions related to acid reflux. One of which is asthma. What is asthma? What are its characteristics, kinds and causes? How can this condition be treated? As you read along, you will find the answers to this question.

Asthma is a disturbance of breathing in several respiratory diseases involving the lungs and bronchi. It is characterized by wheezing, coughing, choking, and shortness of breath. It occurs in heart diseases and emphysema.

Characteristics of asthma

A sudden asthmatic attack is more frightening than dangerous. Gasping for air, the sufferer may fling the window open and hang over the sill for relief. An individual may breathe with difficulty. He chokes and coughs incessantly and may emit whistling or squeaking sounds.

At first, the person with asthma may experience incapability of filling his lungs with air and then when he has struggled to gasp in a partial breath, he cannot expel it. In serious cases, an individual may turn blue and looks as if death were impending. However, this is a very rare case.

Kinds of asthma and its causes

Now, let us go to the different kinds of asthma. Below is an explanation of each type and what causes the situation:

Paroxysm Asthma. This asthma is caused by an abrupt spasmodic constriction of the bronchioles in the lungs. This commonly leads to suffocation.
Allergic Asthma. This is usually caused by a release of the inciting agent known as histamine.
Cardiac Asthma. This is caused by heart failure. In some cases, it may be due to medications to support the heart.
Emphysema Asthma. This is commonly due to some forms of drugs prescribed to treat nervous tension and relax the constricted bronchi.
Bronchial Asthma. This is due to an allergen. To make sure that this kind of asthma is treated, the doctor must learn to eliminate the allergen causing the condition and to give the patient antihistaminic drugs as needed. Almost 50% of bronchial asthmas are caused by inhalation of allergens while the rest are caused by specific infections in the bronchi.

Treatment for asthma

The basic treatment of asthma is directed to the underlying cause of the symptom. For symptomatic relief of all kinds of asthma, doctors usually prescribe ephedrine and aminophylline to relax the spasm of the bronchioles. An injection or inhalation of epinephrine through the use of a nebulizer or atomizer acts instantly and often relieves the spasm in less than five minutes.

Myths on asthma

Here are some of the myths behind asthma:

It is a psychological condition. It is not true that asthma is due to emotional issues. However, it can help in activating the attack of asthma.
It can be outgrown. No it cannot. Although this condition may become dormant during the adolescent stage, there is a great possibility that it can recur anytime throughout maturity.
Asthma can be treated. As of the moment, there is still no cure for asthma. However, the condition can be controlled especially if the patient is given proper medical care and attention. You must not take this condition for granted as it may lead to emergency situation and even death.

Asthma is hereditary. It is most likely that you will be affected by asthma if both your parents have it. But if only one of your parents has asthma, you will have a lesser chance to acquire the condition.

Asthma: A Closer Look at Acid Reflux Information

tuan megai — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:50:35 +0000

Asthma

Approximately, around 75% of individuals who have asthma will most likely experience regular heartburn or gastro-esophageal reflux disease. This especially applies to those who have constant asthma and are already resistant to medication. With this, it pays to check more on other acid reflux information.

Acid reflux is characterized by constant back and forth movements of stomach acids. It starts from the stomach going to the esophagus. Commonly, the acid stays in the stomach if the lower esophageal sphincter is still functioning very well. If the LES no longer performs its task properly the acid will create irritation known as heartburn. If the condition is not addressed immediately it can lead to lung injury, esophagus ulcers, Barret’s esophagus and even esophageal cancer.

Relationship between asthma and acid reflux

Although research shows that there is a connection between asthma and acid reflux, there is still no conclusive evidence that will point out to the direct relationship between the two. However, some data shows that some types of medicines used in treating asthma can also degenerate signs of acid reflux. There are some examinations showing that acid reflux treatment is useful in alleviating the signs of asthma.

There are physicians who frequently theorize that acid reflux is a result of asthma especially when the condition starts during adulthood. But with the statements above, it can be said that the two conditions may complement each other very well. Simply put, when acid reflux is treated, there is a great chance that asthma can be treated as well.

The effects of acid reflux on asthma

As already stated, the exact connection between asthma and acid reflux has not yet been established. In fact, there are lesser probabilities on the connection between the two conditions. One probability is that acid discharge can result to damage on the inside layer of the throat, air passageways and lungs. This results to breathing difficulty and frequent coughing.

Another probable connection between the two is that when acid goes up into the esophagus, the nerve reaction is activated. This may result to shortness of breath. Apart from these probable connections of the two conditions, there are also researches showing that acid reflux may heighten in individuals with asthma who were given bronchodilators.

What to do if you have acid reflux AND asthma

If you have both of these conditions, you must continue to take your asthma medication. Also, consider staying away from things that will trigger the disorder. The good news is you can prevent majority of the indications of acid reflux by just merely following your doctor’s advice and by adjusting your lifestyle. There are simple techniques to get rid of the problem as long as you know how to follow instructions.

Since asthma and acid reflux are considered related to each other, it is important that you should keep records on all the things that can trigger the symptoms of both conditions. Be guided by the facts in this acid reflux information as well. This will help you attack the problems directly.