Before the question, is it possible to suffer from shortness of breath because of acid reflux, can be answered, it is helpful to know exactly what causes the acid reflux in the first place. Acid reflux is most simply the regurgitation of the contents of the stomach, up the esophagus to the back of the throat, or in some cases into the mouth. The result is heartburn, an irritated esophagus and throat, nausea and the feeling that something is lodged behind your breastbone. Some sufferers also have actual vomiting, wheezing and coughing, hiccups, hoarseness, chest pain or swallowing difficulties.
Myth or Truth?
The fact is that acid reflux can lead to a whole host of other serious conditions if left untreated. Can acid reflux cause shortness of breath? It most definitely can. To be more specific the shortness of breath is a result of the constriction of the airway. This can happen in more than one way. First, the actual regurgitation of the acid can get into the airway causing it to constrict or be blocked. This is similar to what happens when you swallow liquid down the wrong way, only in this instance the liquid is extremely acidic and painful making the sensation even worse. The second major way to develop shortness of breath from acid reflux is when the acid in the stomach affects the nerve endings located in the esophagus, which will contract. This can cause constriction of the airway or shortness of breath. For those who suffer chest pain as a result of acid reflux; any chest pain can cause shortness of breath. Along the same line severe acid reflux can cause asthma or wheezing, yet again another form of shortness of breath.
Tips for Acid Reflux Sufferers
- Reduce the size of your meals. The more full the stomach is the worse the acid reflux will be. The bigger the meal, the more stomach acid is produced to digest it.
- Do not eat anything right before bed time; wait at least 2 hours after eating to lie down. Lying down aggravates acid reflux.
- Try sleeping with your upper half of your body (not just your head) propped up or sleep on your left side.
- Lose weight if you need to. Excess weight places pressure on all internal organs including the stomach and make acid reflux happen more often.
- Avoid acidic foods such as; fruits and juice with high acid content, fats, caffeine, onion, peppermint and chocolate.
- Stop smoking; it causes damage to the esophagus that allows acid reflux to happen.
- Over the counter antacids can in some cases relieve the acid reflux.
If you frequently suffer recurring acid reflux and the tips described above do not help your shortness of breath or the acid reflux itself, then a visit to your physician is in order. There are many medical conditions that can cause acid reflux that are serious and require treatment. The physician can conduct testing and diagnose your specific problem, and then recommend appropriate treatment or prescription medication.
This article is the courtesy of good-health-tips.org, a website dedicated to helping people with health related issues.
