Acid Reflux and Asthma Are a Terrible Combination: Learn How You Can Find Relief

Having acid reflux is no picnic. Having asthma can change a person’s life. When you have both, it can seem that you never find relief. The good news is that at Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group, we do have some options that can help you move forward safely and comfortably. Read on to learn more about the ways we can treat acid reflux and then contact us at 805-658-9500 to make an appointment with an immunologist.

Acid reflux can complicate your asthma – and your asthma can complicate your acid reflux

Often referred to as heartburn, acid reflex is a health condition involving the tissues of the esophagus. A person with acid reflux often feels a burning in their chest, or they feel as though there’s food stuck behind their breastbone. This is due to the content of the stomach leaking back into the esophagus. Other less common symptoms include wheezing, a sore throat, hoarseness, having a hard time swallowing, or chronic coughing.

As you can see, many of the symptoms of acid reflux mimic the symptoms of asthma. As a result, it’s not hard to see that a person suffering from asthma who also had acid reflux would feel the symptoms even more significantly. The opposite is also true – a person who has acid reflux who develops asthma can find their health doubly complicated.

It’s common for a person to have both acid reflux and asthma

In many cases, a person will indeed have both asthma and acid reflux. This is seen most often in children. In fact, about 50% of children who have asthma will also have some sort of severe acid reflux. Though science has not yet confirmed the exact reason that these two conditions are linked, it’s clear that when a person has one, the other can become worse.

As a result, if you have asthma and start to notice signs of acid reflux, you should contact your doctor right away. Likewise, if you have acid reflux and start to notice signs of asthma, your doctor should be contacted. Parents with a child who has either acid reflux or asthma should keep an eye out for symptoms of the other.

The good news is that there is help out there for you

It’s true that no one wants to have asthma or acid reflux – let alone both of them together. That said, there is help available to you. At Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group, we have a deep understanding of how these two conditions interact with each other. If you have acid reflux and asthma, or if you have a chronic cough, then it’s entirely possible that your acid reflux is not being treated correctly or at all.

When you get the correct treatment, you may find that your asthma or cough improves dramatically. The first step is to talk to one of our experienced allergists who can provide customized recommendations for your specific needs. Reach out to Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 to make your appointment.