Can Acid Reflux Cause Coughing?
- Acid reflux can cause coughing.
- In the case of acid reflux, the cough reflex can be triggered by the aspiration of the stomach’s contents into the esophagus, which then stimulates the cough reflex.
- Acids in the lower portion of the esophagus may also stimulate a cough reflex through neural reflex arcs.
- Acid reflux is one of the top three causes of a chronic cough.
Jump Ahead
- The Difference Between Acid Reflux and GERD
- What Is a Cough?
- Why Acid Reflux May Cause Coughing
- Acid Reflux Is a Common Cause of Chronic Cough
The Difference Between Acid Reflux and GERD
Acid reflux is medically referred to as gastroesophageal reflux (GER). GER is common and occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, does not close properly, allowing stomach contents and digestive juices to rise into the esophagus, causing discomfort and pain. The terms acid reflux, acid regurgitation, and gastroesophageal reflux are used interchangeably. [1]
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a more severe form of acid reflux. Persistent acid reflux occurring more than twice a week is considered GERD. [2]
What Is a Cough?
The airways are lined with cough receptors designed to clear the airways of lung irritants. When stimulated by irritants such as smoke, dust, or foreign bodies, the cough reflex is triggered in an attempt to expel the irritant from the body. [3]
The body reacts to anything that irritates the cells along the air passages by coughing.
Why Acid Reflux May Cause Coughing
In the case of acid reflux, the cough reflex can be triggered by the aspiration of the stomach’s contents into the esophagus, which then stimulates the cough reflex. Acids in the lower portion of the esophagus may also stimulate a cough reflex through neural reflex arcs without any aspiration into the esophagus. [4]
Acid Reflux Is a Common Cause of Chronic Cough
GER is one of the top three causes of chronic cough, along with postnasal drip syndrome and asthma. (Postnasal drip is the leading cause in 41% of the cases, followed by asthma in 24% of the cases, and GER in 21% of the cases.) Though it is a leading cause of a chronic cough, GER is usually not initially suspected because of the absence of common symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation. Interestingly, forty-three percent of the time, cough is the only symptom of GER. [5]
Resources
- [1] [2] National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House – “Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).”
- [3] National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute – “What Is a Cough?“
- [4] Gajanan S; Annals of Thoracic Medicine; Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease 2009; Volume: 4; No: 3; Pages: 115-123
- [5] Irwin RS; The American Review of Respiratory Disease; “Chronic cough. The spectrum and frequency of causes, key components of the diagnostic evaluation, and outcome of specific therapy;” 1990; Volume: 141; No: 3; Pages: 640-647
Additional Reading
Irwin RS; Chest; “Chronic cough due to gastroesophageal reflux. Clinical, diagnostic, and pathogenetic aspects.” 1993; Volume: 104; No: 5; Pages: 1511-1517
WebMD – Understanding Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – Symptoms
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