Acid Reflux Cough - Is That Nagging Cough More Serious Than You Think?

If you've ever had a recurring cough and weren't sure about the cause, it likely never crossed your mind that it might be connected to acid reflux.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the medical term for what we know as acid reflux. Acid, bile, and pepsin make up the content of the regurgitated liquid.

The symptoms of acid reflux include nausea, belching, a sore throat, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, a pain in the chest that's often mistaken as a heart attack, and in some cases chronic coughing. In fact, virtually three out of every four sufferers experience night time symptoms (such as coughing, snoring, and chest pain) that are not generally considered typical acid reflux symptoms. A chronic cough falls into this category. It's induced when acid contacts the vocal cords and is passed to the lower airway.

Coughing can be evoked even when minute amounts of acid are passed up to the vocal cords. Because there's so little stomach acid involved, often no other reflux symptoms are apparent, and the connection between the two goes unnoticed. In fact, they may not even have heartburn in the conventional sense, considering that there's little or no damage to the lining of the esophagus when the acid level is so moderate.

If you have none of the other typical symptoms, such as the sniffles, a slight fever, throat irritation, heaviness in the chest, etc., accompanying your cough, then you need to consider other causes. Though you can experience an acid reflux cough without experiencing any of the other symptoms of GERD, if you're experiencing both, then it's time to visit with your doctor. He can help you learn whether or not your cough is acid reflux associated.

Most people will turn to cough syrup when they have a nagging cough. Surprisingly, an acid reflux cough likely won't respond to cough syrup. Yet, it may very well respond to an antacid. If that's your situation, it's a certain indication that it's not an average cough.

Beyond antacids, your doctor may want to prescribe something stronger. If your acid reflux is severe, this may include a proton pump inhibitor such as Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, or Aciphex. These medications are designed to block acid production, which grants the lining of the esophagus an opportunity to mend. Side effects, however, can include abdominal pain, diarrhea and headaches.

When your chronic cough is the consequence of a moderate case of acid reflux, you may only need to make a few lifestyle alterations in order to get it under control. For instance, you'll want to eat more often throughout the day, with your meals being smaller. In addition, allowing three hours or more after your last meal before going to bed can be very helpful. During the night, when you're in a prone position, acid reflux is often at its worst. You'll want to avoid foods that are commonly associated with GERD, such as chocolate, dairy products, fried foods, and citrus fruits. These little alterations may very well be all you need to put an to your acid reflux cough.