Strange as it might sound, you may have an acid reflux cough, a cough that is persistent, and may even be permanent. Even a slight cough can be made much worse by acid reflux, so it is something that needs to be dealt with promptly.
So what happens to give you this? Acid in the stomach finds its way up the esophagus. When this happens, the body’s natural instinct is to cough to try to get rid of the liquid. While in the esophagus the reflux can be damaged, causing it to become even more sensitive, so that a shortness of breath can occur along with or instead of coughing. While this coughing is hard on the person with acid reflux, it can also be hard on the family, as it can become very annoying!
Acid reflux can cause inflammation of the throat if the acid reaches the mouth, the throat tissue can become swollen and sore, and throat tissue can be damaged.
Now obviously, not every cough is the result of acid reflux, some are caused by viruses and infections, but if you are continually coughing, then you may want to check into whether it is an acid reflux cough. If you suspect that it is, then try controlling your stomach acid, and then see if you are still coughing.
Ok, but how do you do that? Doctors will probably prescribe antacids, but there are some things that you should consider, with the approval of your medical doctor of course. Try eating more but smaller meals. If your stomach doesn’t have as much to process, it will not need as much acid, and will not be as full, so the stomach acid will not be forced up the esophagus. Think about using an acid reflux wedge pillow, which will keep your head and upper body higher than your stomach, whether you sleep on your side, or back.
Watch what foods you eat and drink, and see which make your cough worse. Tea and coffee may be a problem for you, along with spicy food, and tomatoes, and alcohol is not recommended either.
Then there are some foods which you should be eating, things like garlic, and almonds, amongst others, but there is something else. You might want to consider which foods you are combining. As an acid reflux sufferer, without the cough fortunately, but nevertheless a sufferer, I went to my doctor, got prescribed antacids, and while they did work for a while, I wasn’t happy with the results. It looked like I was about to get an increased dose, but instead I did some research, and this led me to a change in diet, and a much healthier stomach. Is it difficult to follow? No, it’s not a diet specifically to lose weight, although that might help you too. It is a way of eating that makes it easier for your stomach to process the food you put in it.
It’s working really well for me, I’m off prescription medications altogether, don’t wake up because of the acid reflux, and I am still eating well, and enjoying food more.
So, if you have an acid reflux cough, try food combining for a while and see whether it helps you as much as it has helped me, but don’t forget to check with your doctor first.
