Chances are, if you have one then you’re likely to have the other. GERD - ( Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease ). Yep, more fun to deal with!🥴. These two don’t go together like peanut butter and jelly 😄 more like oil and water!!
When asthma patients begin having asthma symptoms that aren't responding to medication, it's time for doctors to look outside of the lungs, and into the stomach.
Reflux: usually a normal function in the body but when it gets out of control; when stomach contents rise to the back of the throat and enters the airways and lungs it can cause problems.
The muscle where the stomach meets the esophagus is the culprit. When the the esophagus isn't tight enough, contents of the stomach travel into the esophagus into the airway and right into the lungs. :o If this is consistent and ongoing it can leave permanent scarring on the lungs. This is why it's so important for anyone - not only asthma patients to get reflux or GERD - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease under a doctors care and under control. ( Treating GERD with OTC acid reducers are ineffective because acid isn't the main problem, reflux is. ) Your doctor can send you to a doctor of gastroenterology (GI) to diagnose and determine an effective treatment.
[ Bloated Betty has been plague by GI problems, but she's on her way to healing with treatment and altered lifestyle changes! ]
Often lifestyle & dietary changes alone can help alleviate symptoms, but often it may take more, such as an added medication, and in severe cases surgery to tighten the esophageal muscle that's become too loose.
When I went so see a GI doctor, after an exam I was placed on a FODMAP diet. Yes more dietary editing, more eye rolling :() but greater comfort and better breathing makes this lifestyle change worth it. In the next part of our Reflux & Asthma series I'll go into details on my experiences with FODMAP living, mistakes and corrections as I travel down the troubled tummy road. My gerd issues have complicated my asthma so gaining control of it is mandatory. Many times the troubles I've had breathing were solely due to severe tummy bloat due to this issue.
There can be many reasons for a bloated and uncomfortable tummy. Never attempt to self treat as it could be serious and you could make the condition worse. We don't have to be like bloated Betty ( above) although she's working on managing her GERD issues too! Let's get our health managed!