Cheap Online Pharmacy. Generic medications. . Wide range of prescription drugs.

Original Hoodia - Herbal weight loss pills at discount prices.

ARTICLES

The Asthma and Acid Reflux Link

Studies indicate acid reflux is more common among asthma sufferers than those without asthma. Therefore, it is tempting to theorize that there is close connection between asthma and acid reflux.

Characteristics of Asthma

Asthhma is a chronic condition that occurs when your air passages are inflamed and become sensitive to specific stimuli. Pollen, animal dander, cold air, cigarette smoke and some smells can trigger asthma attacks. Strong emotions have even been known to create an asthmatic episode.

An asthma attack occurs when these environmental factors cause your airway lining to swell and produce larger than usual amounts of mucus. The result of the swelling and mucus is coughing, wheezing, a feeling of tightness around the chest area, rapid breathing or shortness of breath. In extreme cases, sufferers cannot breathe and, if treatment is not administered immediately, you could even die.

Heartburn

When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes or becomes loose, acid reflux occurs. The weak LES allows stomach acid to flow upward into your esophagus. The most commonly experienced symptom of acid reflux is heartburn. This is a burning sensation in your throat or throughout your chest. You may also find it is difficult to swallow. You could also have cramping, or a sore or hoarse throat.

Debunking the Asthma and Acid Reflux Connection

Findings show that as many as 70% of asthma patients experience acid reflux. The cause for possible correlation between asthma and acid reflux remains unproven. However, there have been theories formulated for a possible link between asthma and acid reflux.

Significant pressure changes that asthma sufferers experience in their chest cavity when they are breathing appear to be the most reasonable explanation for the apparent link between asthma and acid reflux. High pressure could force stomach acid up their esophagus, resulting in acid reflux symptoms. Regurgitating stomach acid could then cause irritation to the lungs, further aggravating asthma. This has been observed in asthma patients.

Some studies involved injecting acid into the esophagus of asthma patients. These injections did increase their asthma symptoms. As a result of such a study, it is tempting to infer that an increase in acid reflux also causes an increase in asthma symptoms. If this were the case, then acid reflux treatments should also be effective treatments against asthma. However, this has generally not been found to be true.

Simultaneously taking medications for asthma and acid reflux may cause more health problems down the road, since a link between asthma and acid reflux has not been documented to exist. Your best solution is to go to a doctor who can prescribe natural treatment methods for acid reflux. Medical treatments for acid reflux are generally successful even though severe cases might require surgical remedies.