Trouble breathing is one of the more frightening symptoms of heartburn and the chronic form of the condition, which is called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD can be related to breathing problems such as bronchospasm and aspiration. These problems can in some cases cause dangerous respiratory complications.
Shortness of breath, likewise called dyspnea, occurs with GERD since stomach acid that creeps into the esophagus can get in the lungs, especially during sleep, and cause swelling of the air passages.
This can result in asthma reactions or cause goal pneumonia. Such respiratory tract damage can affect breathing by triggering coughing or wheezing.
With more than 70 million Americans suffering from acid reflux monthly, you might just think that in a discussion between two buddies that both experience reflux, it would be treated as typical and maybe even laughed off.
Can GERD Cause Shortness of Breath?
With shortness of breath being a more frightening symptom of acid reflux, it’s crucial to look after your health prior to it reaches this chronic stage and spreads out beyond your digestive system.
The painful symptoms of heartburn, takes place when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) dysfunctions. The LES is a valve which sits at the base of your esophagus right above your stomach. Its job is to open and close when swallowing food.
When it dysfunctions and opens sporadically, painful stomach acid infects the esophagus. The most chronic condition of acid reflux is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
When you do not make the effort to find out why reflux is occurring in the first place, symptoms can intensify and lead to dyspnea.
This is where you have problem breathing as excessive gaseous mist travels into your breathing tract. In studies, it is approximated that as much as 80% of patients experiencing GERD also struggle with asthma.
How is Shortness of Breath and Heartburn Linked?
When you experience heartburn, there’s a lot of pressure placed on your body and in specific your respiratory system. If you think about it, your muscles are working overtime to attempt clear the stomach acid from your esophagus.
In the more severe cases of dyspnea, your body is working even harder simply to get adequate oxygen for correct function.
Aside from shortness of breath, you might also experience wheezing, coughing and a sensation of anxiety. Typically you might wake in the night with these symptoms. Many respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis have existing GERD symptoms.
Depending how severe your symptoms are, there are some home treatments worth searching for some relief in preventing acid reflux and in turn shortness of breath:
- Sleeping on an elevated pad. This is described as head of bed elevation which has been revealed to be a reliable remedy in minimizing acid reflux symptoms. This is because of preventing stomach acid from taking a trip into the esophagus due to the fact that of the greater resting position of your head.
- Losing excess weight. There is a strong link in between obesity and heartburn or heartburn symptoms. This is because of the pressure put on your body consisting of the stomach. Even a weight gain of 10-15 pounds in a research study of healthy women, has been revealed to increase heartburn and reflux symptoms by 40%.
Other Methods to Assist GERD Symptoms
If lifestyle changes alone do not improve reflux-related breathing problems, your doctor might likewise suggest drug treatments for GERD symptoms. Drugs that your doctor may suggest include antacids, H2 receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. In unusual cases, surgery is required.
If you have both GERD and asthma, continue to take your prescribed asthma medications (and medications for GERD if your doctor has actually prescribed them)– and restrict direct exposure to your asthma and GERD triggers.
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Good luck! Have a nice weekend!
