Those people who are lucky enough not to suffer from this type of indigestion won’t know that one of the many symptoms can be the acid reflux cough. They might think it’s smoker’s cough, a cold or any other number of things. In fact many people who DO suffer themselves may not even be aware that a persistent or chronic cough will be related to their malady.

If you have acid reflux cough, you might not know that you have have GERD.

You have a cough. It’s annoying. You may be worried about it and may think it’s something else. Even something serious. It may even play on your mind and if you’re too scared to go to the doctor in case it IS something serious you might never find out and go through your entire life with an irritating cough.

The other weird thing is that this could be the only symptom of acid reflux that you suffer from, which is the prime reason that you may not be able to figure it out for yourself.

So, what is

Acid Reflux Cough?

It’s pretty much the same as any cough, being neither very dry or connected with any loose phlegm. So you won’t have cause to immediately think that it’s something other than a common cold, or any other throat related problem or infection.

It’s caused by stomach acid flowing back up to the esophagus, or nerves being irritated in the esophagus, causing the airways to contract in a spasm leading to coughing. Oddly, the acid might not even make it up into your throat and you might not feel any of the familiar heartburn type pain.

One of the big problems with having avid reflux cough is that it can further irritate your throat at a point when you least need it irritated. When the coughing and reflux is chronic it can leave its mark on your throat by damaging the tissue, making it more likely for you to cough. As you can see, it’s a vicious cycle that you should break as soon as you can.

Beating Acid Reflux Cough

Once this has been diagnosed, what can you do to combat it?

I’m sure your doctor would have given you all sorts of great advice, probably along the lines of…

• Adopting an acid reflux diet. Changing the way you eat to cut out the fatty foods and acidic items that really cause your stomach acid to erupt.
• Cut down your alcohol consumption
• Quit smoking. Cigarette smoke is harmful in the first place, but when your throat is inflamed it’s even more damaging.
• Improve your sleeping patterns and position

He might even prescribe medication or as a last resort a surgical solution.

My advice would be to start taking note of when your acid reflux hits, when you cough and if you believe that it’s the indigestion making you cough. Maybe keep a food diary, along with when you’re sleeping and the relationship between the two.

The Reflux Remedy book gives valuable insights into this condition.