Due to unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle, many people suffer from digestive complaints. While most people occasionally experience acid reflux, some may develop more serious forms of acid problems. GERD cough is one of those problems that, if not treated right, can cause you a lot of health issues later on. Here is what you need to know about GERD cough.

What is GERD?

GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. It happens when part of your stomach acid comes up your throat, or esophagus to be exact. This condition can happen occasionally or persistently, depending on the severity of the disease. The acid in the esophagus can lead to heartburn and other symptoms, as well as possible tissue damage. 

Causes of Gerd

Even though it's normal to have acid reflux from time to time, GERD is diagnosed if it occurs frequently. Acid reflux often happens due to lying down after eating, overeating, or eating certain foods.

There are many causes for GERD, but most of them are related to people's eating habits. Though in some cases, it is caused due to a bad digestive system. GERD usually occurs in people who are:

• Pregnant and have increased pressure on their abdomen. 
• Obese or overweight.
• Smoker, or second-hand smoker. 
• Taking particular medications such as sedatives, antidepressants, and asthma medication. 

Symptoms of GERD

There are various symptoms of GERD, but the most common one is heartburn. Heartburn is usually described as the discomfort or burning sensation in your chest. It tends to worsen when you bend over, lie down, or after eating food. 

However, not everyone with GERD experiences heartburn; there are also other symptoms such as: 

• Bad breath 
• Decay
• Vomiting or nausea
• Respiratory problem

Now that you have known about GERD, its symptoms, and also its causes. Let's move on to GERD cough.

What is GERD Cough?

It is persistent coughing, which is caused by GERD. The research found out that GERD is responsible for more than 25% of cases of chronic cough. And people with GERD cough usually have trouble swallowing, and continuously have to clear their throat. 

Even worse, if this condition is left untreated, it can cause many problems such as damaged windpipe and voice box. Also, it increases the risk of having esophageal cancer. Not only that, but a bad case of coughing can develop asthma, change your voice, and reduce your sleep quality, which will potentially affect your overall health. 

How to Get Rid of GERD Cough

For those with a minor case of GERD cough, some changes in your habit or lifestyle can minimize or even eliminate its effects. Learning what your bad habits are, and knowing how to replace them with a good one is crucial if you want to get rid of GERD. 

• Stay fit and healthy. People who are obese or overweight are more likely to have GERD than usual. 
• Quit smoking. Smoking can significantly impact the functions of your esophageal sphincter. Not only that, smoking is a very serious health issue. As smoker's cough is a good indicator that you should quit smoking  
• Eat slowly and chew carefully before swallowing. 
• Chew more gum to increase the amount of neutralized acid and saliva.
• Don't wear tight-fitting clothing. As the clothes might affect the circulation of your blood around the neck and waist, or sometimes cause damage after a while. 
• Raise your head when sleeping. It can help if you raise the head of your bed by six to nine inches. However, in case it doesn't work, try using more pillows. 
• Avoid eating at least 3 hours before bedtime. Having a late meal means extra work for your digestive system. 
• Have smaller meals. Instead of having one big meal, you can divide it into smaller meals; this could help you digest easier. 

These methods' effectiveness depends on the severity of your GERD cough. 

If all of these methods don't work out for you, you should try going to a professional to have some other treatment and medication. 

Coughing is the best way for the body to let you know the state of health you're in. However, not all coughs are the same. Depending on the quantity, the frequency can mean different things. Sometimes it means you're just having a cold. Other times, it could mean you have a very bad case of GERD cough or, even worse, affected by the COVID-19 virus. 

No matter what the case, the best thing you can do right now is to keep track of your health and have a healthy lifestyle. Do more exercise, stay away from junk food, sleep well; that's the best way for you to avoid GERD cough or any other diseases.

The Hyfe Mind