Often coughs? it could be due to increased stomach acid

Persistent cough is generally a symptom of a disease affecting the respiratory system. However, coughing can also be caused by digestive system disorders. Acid reflux into the esophagus can cause a type of cough that lasts for weeks or a chronic cough. Coughing due to acid reflux is often not realized by many people. How can stomach acid cause coughing?

Why does increased stomach acid cause coughing?

According to gastroenterology doctor, Ryan D Madanick, from the North Carolina School of Medicine, as many as 25% of chronic cough cases are caused by GERD. However, most of them do not feel any indigestion, so they do not realize that stomach acid is the cause of their cough.

GERD is a condition when stomach acid rises into the esophagus or esophagus. The esophagus itself is a tube that carries food from the throat into the stomach. Increased stomach acid (acid reflux) can then irritate the esophagus causing inflammation. The cough reflex takes place to protect the airways due to this reflux of stomach acid.

Ryan also added that several studies have found that the cough reflex can also trigger the increase in stomach acid into the esophagus. As a result, there is a cough-acid reflux cycle which results in a chronic cough.

The condition of GERD itself is caused by a disorder that causes the sphincter or smooth muscle in the lower part of the esophagus to weaken, allowing acid from the stomach up into the esophagus.

Various factors that can affect and aggravate this condition are usually related to habits or lifestyle, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and eating foods that trigger acid reflux, such as fatty and fried foods that cause coughs.

Distinguishing coughs caused by GERD stomach acid

Now, to determine whether your chronic cough is due to increased stomach acid or not, you can see it from several other symptoms that appear, such as:

• Chest pain: chest pain when coughing is usually felt after eating and usually occurs simultaneously with coughing. This condition can last for several hours.
• Hoarseness: irritation caused by stomach acid can affect the vocal cords so that the voice becomes hoarse, especially in the morning.
• Difficulty swallowing food: this is because the food that enters the mouth is blocked from entering the esophagus to the stomach. As a result, it can cause a choking sensation.
• Smelly breath: acid that comes from the stomach when it enters the esophagus can cause bad odor when breathing.
• Experiencing indigestion, such as pain in the upper abdomen (heartburn), nausea, and bloating.
• Often coughs when lying down.
• Persistent cough, even if you don't smoke or take medication with cough side effects.
• Cough without asthma symptoms, such as wheezing or coughing with phlegm.
• Cough without an allergic reaction, such as nasal congestion, watery eyes, or itching of the skin.

If you experience one or more of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. The doctor will perform a number of tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or monitoring of the pH of the esophagus to assess acidity. Cough due to stomach acid is indicated by high acid levels on the test results.

Cough medicine due to stomach acid

The cough that results from GERD can last for weeks. Even so, there are ways to deal with coughs caused by acid reflux. The drugs used are of course different from ordinary cough relievers.

Chronic cough medicine due to GERD can be obtained from a doctor's prescription. However, some drugs over the counter (OTC drugs) to treat GERD can also be obtained at pharmacies without a prescription.

Here are some cough medicines due to acid reflux:

• Antacids, such as Mylanta to neutralize acids and relieve pain in the stomach (heartburn).
• H2 blockers,such as cimetidine, fomotidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine, to reduce acid production in the stomach.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, esomeprazole, and omeprazole, to inhibit acid production more effectively than H2 blockers.

Apart from taking drugs, cough conditions due to stomach acid will be resolved more quickly if you also make some lifestyle changes, such as:

• Eat more regularly with small portions, but often.
• Maintain ideal body weight.
• Do not lie down for at least two hours after eating.
• Avoid various foods that trigger coughs and acid reflux, consume alcohol, and stop smoking.
• Do not wear tight clothes that press on the stomach.