Overcoming GERD Asthma

Overcoming GERD Asthma
By Kathryn Whittaker

Those who suffer from GERD - otherwise referred to as acid
reflux - will tell you that though the main problems revolve
around the digestive system, there are other things within the
body that can be affected by excess acid. The connection between
the symptoms of GERD and other maladies is hard to find at
first, and this means most think they have two, or even three,
unrelated problems. There are times though, when treating one
can help with treatment of the other. If you are having problems
with your respiratory system, you should know about the GERD
asthma connection.

If you look around for information on the link between GERD and
asthma, you are going to find that some believe GERD causes
asthma in some people, and other who are of the opinion that it
just makes pre-existing worse.

Whatever the case, the outcome is still the same. can be
very detrimental to your quality of life, and in some cases, it
can be a very serious condition. Learning how to get GERD under
control can help with the symptoms and severity of in
some patients.

Before you can try to reduce problems with GERD and asthma, you
have to understand what the connection is. You may already be
aware that the acid from the stomach can damage the lining of
the esophagus, which causes a lot of the pain associated with
acid reflux, but you may not know that this acid can leak into
the lungs as well.

This generally happens when GERD is left untreated. The acid
can reflux up the esophagus and be inhaled into the lungs,
usually when a patient is lying down, and can do damage to the
tissues within the lungs. This is called aspiration.

The acid can damage the tissues of the esophagus, but they do
have ways to fight back. The tissues of the lungs, however, are
very vulnerable. This means the acid is going to cause serious
damage in a short amount of time. This can lead to asthma, or to
a worsening of a pre-existing case. There is another theory
other than the acid entering the lungs while sleeping that makes
some sense.

Some medications may act as a muscle relaxant, loosening
the Lower Esophageal Sphincter muscle that separates the stomach
and the esophagus, making reflux worse. If you have and
take medication, you might want to talk with your doctor about
that possibility.

One of the best ways to stop GERD from aggravating

is to
get the acid reflux under control. This can be done in a variety
of ways, the easiest and least expensive option being changing
your diet. You can also take over-the-counter acid blocker, or
one prescribed by a doctor if they think a stronger version is
needed.

Once the acid production is slowed down, the amount being
aspirated into the lungs will lessen. You can also watch how
much you eat and when you eat it. Eating smaller meals that
digest quickly will lessen the amount of acid in the stomach,
and try to avoid eating 3 – 4 hours before bedtime.

You should also take a look at your bedroom and sleeping
habits. You may cope with your GERD symptoms much more
easily if you have found a way to keep down the amount of
allergens in the air. Dust mites, and other minute particles
floating around in the air can greatly aggravate your already
damaged and inflamed tissues. Look for ways to cut down on the
amount of allergens in your home, and raise your head and chest
while sleeping. This helps to keep acid from refluxing at night.

About the Author: Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker's
brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter here
http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/?source=is which is
overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you combat
Acid Reflux and GERD.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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