Do you have a persistent cough and have often wondered what the cause of it was? Well, one possible cause is that you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, otherwise known as GERD or acid reflux. Now, you may be thinking you do not have heartburn or chest pain and so you would never have guessed that you had acid reflux. However, it is possible to develop an acid reflux cough but not the heartburn that normally comes with acid reflux. The reason is that the esophagus can sometimes tolerate the acid that backwashes from the stomach but your throat and larynx are unable to. So if the acid reaches these parts of your body you may well develop this cough as a result.
A different kind of cough can also develop when the stomach acid is able to find its way through your throat and into your lungs. This causes a dry acid reflux cough and people may develop dangerous breathing disorders such as pneumonia or bronchitis as a consequence. The best way to deal with these acid reflux coughs is to take medicines or remedies designed to control acid reflux or to reduce the activities that can cause it in the first place.
Before knowing how to counteract acid reflux it is handy to have some knowledge of exactly what the condition is. Everyone has a muscle at the base of their esophagus which is designed to allow food to pass one way only - to the stomach. However, in some people this muscle is weaker than for others and so acid can travel back from the stomach and burn the tender esophageal tissues.
As we discussed, one of the best ways to deal with acid reflux is to take medicines which are able to absorb or neutralize the stomach acid that is coming back through. If the acid reflux cough becomes a persistent condition then you may need to consult with your doctor and devise a more long term solution. This may require analyzing and modifying your current diet. For example, eating too many fatty, sweet and dairy products will often cause acid reflux. You should also keep an eye on the beverages you consume as well as too much alcohol, soft drinks and orange juice can contribute to the problem.
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