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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Reactive Airways / Acid Reflux
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This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
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Reactive Airways / Acid Reflux
by schiess, Nov 17, 2003 12:00AM
i've had asthma for years, usually fine. lately, i wheeze just going up stairs. i'm very healthy and not overweight, dr's sd. oxygen level is 100%, yet it's apparent my airways aren't fully open. i've been on all types of inhalers, advair, albuterol, combivent, nebulizer, allegra d, singulair. you name it i have it. Yet, I'm still wheezing. Lately I have this "heartburn" and i was told maybe it's acid reflux. now my dr. wants me to have an upper gi, an esophogram and some type of arethochrine (sp?) challenge test done. it's a test where they cause you to wheeze.... I'm curious to see what you might have to say about this. i can't be around any type of fumes, odors. noone can have perfume on, i'll be somewhere, and if they have any type of perfume on, i can't breathe, i have to move, and i'm sick for the rest of day. i mean, i'm very hoarse and i'm wheezing. i have thought about going to the cleveland clinic if the above tests don't work. Please let me know your opinion. god bless. deb
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Nov 19, 2003 12:00AM
, Nov 19, 2003 12:00AM
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the back flow of stomach contents, including digestive juices, into the esophagus or food tube. This is most commonly called acid reflux or heartburn. This reflux can come all the way up into the mouth and nose. When this happens the material can be aspirated, dribbling into the windpipe and lungs. This could explain your hoarseness. This can also trigger your asthma, causing you to wheeze. Once your asthma is flared up it is possible for you to be more sensitive to other triggers such as the fumes and odors.
GERD can cause the following symptoms:
· Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth;
· Pain occurring in the middle of the chest;
· Coughing and/or choking while lying down; and
· Increased trouble breathing while asleep.
Testing for acid reflux may include a pH probe that measures the acid in your esophagus to see if digestive juices are coming up from your stomach. Please read our Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/reflux.html for more information about things to do to lessen acid reflux. It’s important that you get started on helpful treatment so that your asthma returns to its usual well-controlled status. A gastroenterologist is the type of specialist to let you know if further testing is needed to identify acid reflux and the best treatment.
There is a complex asthma test that is the gold standard for diagnosing asthma. This is called a methacholine challenge. You will blow into a spirometer before and after each increasing dose of an inhaled medicine. This test is positive for asthma if the result after the inhaled medicine is 20% lower than it was before the inhaled medicine.
GERD can cause the following symptoms:
· Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth;
· Pain occurring in the middle of the chest;
· Coughing and/or choking while lying down; and
· Increased trouble breathing while asleep.
Testing for acid reflux may include a pH probe that measures the acid in your esophagus to see if digestive juices are coming up from your stomach. Please read our Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/reflux.html for more information about things to do to lessen acid reflux. It’s important that you get started on helpful treatment so that your asthma returns to its usual well-controlled status. A gastroenterologist is the type of specialist to let you know if further testing is needed to identify acid reflux and the best treatment.
There is a complex asthma test that is the gold standard for diagnosing asthma. This is called a methacholine challenge. You will blow into a spirometer before and after each increasing dose of an inhaled medicine. This test is positive for asthma if the result after the inhaled medicine is 20% lower than it was before the inhaled medicine.
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