Shortness of breath due to increased stomach acid, how to deal with it?

For those of you who have an ulcer, you must be very familiar with complaints of shortness of breath due to increased stomach acid. This symptom is actually a sign of chronic gastritis. Continuously worsening acid reflux can lead to life-threatening respiratory complications, you know! Check out how to prevent shortness of breath due to chronic gastritis below.

Why can an ulcer make shortness of breath?

Shortness of breath due to rising stomach acid can occur when the acid comes in contact with the esophagus or actually enters the lungs. This condition then triggers a nerve reflex that causes the airways to narrow to force the fluid out of the lungs.

If your ulcer is chronic, the damage to the esophagus and lungs due to exposure to stomach acid continuously can lead to respiratory diseases such as asthma or pneumonia, which is characterized by coughing or wheezing (wheezing sound). Not infrequently, this also causes a feeling of tightness in the chest.

How to quickly deal with shortness of breath due to increased stomach acid

When you have trouble breathing, immediately move to an open, airy place that has free and fresh air circulation. Then, try to sit up straight and breathe slowly through your stomach, pursing your lips.

Place your hands on your stomach, then inhale slowly through your nose. Let your chest and lower abdomen expand until you feel your hands rise as well. This means that your diaphragm is moving downward to make room for your lungs to fill up with oxygenated air.

Hold your breath for a few seconds (count 1 to 10 slowly), and then exhale slowly through your mouth (count again 1 to 10 slowly). You should also feel your hands slowly dropping as well. Repeat for a few minutes until you can catch your breath.

Shortness of breath due to increased stomach acid can also be treated with drugs that are inhaled or taken. The goal is to help relieve or prevent obstruction of the airway and excessive mucus production. Several types of drugs to reduce stomach acid due to GERD are H2-blockers (Ranitidine or Famotidine) and Proton pump inhibitors / PPIs (omeprazole).

When your stomach acid recurs and causes shortness of breath, this is a serious condition and you should get treatment from a doctor as soon as possible. You may also be referred to a doctor who specializes in digestive disorders for some medical tests.

How to prevent shortness of breath due to increased stomach acid?

Apart from the medicines prescribed by the doctor, a regular diet and a healthy lifestyle can reduce the appearance of ulcer symptoms. You should divide your meal into small portions for one day and avoid fatty foods, acidic foods, and spicy foods. Also, don't eat big meals too tight at night. While sleeping, don't use too many pillows, which can worsen acid reflux conditions.

Preventing shortness of breath can also be done by practicing deep breathing techniques as described above. Reporting from Everyday Health, a recent study reports that the symptoms of GERD can be relieved by regular breathing exercises. Then, a small study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology showed that participants who studied breathing techniques to strengthen the diaphragm had a lower risk of experiencing shortness of breath due to increased stomach acid than people who did not do breathing exercises.

If you smoke, stop the habit and avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. Always go to the doctor regularly to check the health of your stomach.