If your asthma is uncontrolled, especially if you are having nighttime symptoms, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be to blame. As many as 75% of patients with difficult to treat asthma also experience frequent heartburn.GERDis one of the most common conditions that contribute touncontrolled asthma,and you may need to get evaluated. Symptoms of GERD include:
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What Your Healthcare Provider Will Do If They Suspect GERD
Your asthma provider may choose to order some tests depending on your symptoms, or he may just start a therapeutic trial to see if your uncontrolled asthma symptoms improve.
Your provider may offer you a number of possible treatments for GERD:
Will GERD Treatment Help Your Asthma?
Both medical and surgical treatments have been shown to decrease nighttime symptoms, decrease the frequency of asthma exacerbations, and improve the quality of life in asthma patients. Be sure to keep your healthcare provider informed of how you’re feeling—better or worse. However, if treatment does not improve your asthma symptoms, you and your healthcare provider should consider other causes.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Leggett JJ, Johnston BT, Mills M, Gamble J, Heaney LG.Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in difficult asthma.Chest. 2005;127(4):1227-1231. doi:10.1016/S0012-3692(15)34471-8Ates F, Vaezi MF.Insight into the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and asthma.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2014;10(11):729-736.Kahrilas PJ.Regurgitation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2013;9(1):37-39.Gaude GS.Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Ann Thorac Med. 2009;4(3):115-123. doi:10.4103/1817-1737.53347National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for GER & GERD.FDA.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.Additional ReadingNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Patient Information.Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Leggett JJ, Johnston BT, Mills M, Gamble J, Heaney LG.Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in difficult asthma.Chest. 2005;127(4):1227-1231. doi:10.1016/S0012-3692(15)34471-8Ates F, Vaezi MF.Insight into the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and asthma.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2014;10(11):729-736.Kahrilas PJ.Regurgitation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2013;9(1):37-39.Gaude GS.Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Ann Thorac Med. 2009;4(3):115-123. doi:10.4103/1817-1737.53347National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for GER & GERD.FDA.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.Additional ReadingNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Patient Information.Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Leggett JJ, Johnston BT, Mills M, Gamble J, Heaney LG.Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in difficult asthma.Chest. 2005;127(4):1227-1231. doi:10.1016/S0012-3692(15)34471-8Ates F, Vaezi MF.Insight into the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and asthma.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2014;10(11):729-736.Kahrilas PJ.Regurgitation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2013;9(1):37-39.Gaude GS.Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Ann Thorac Med. 2009;4(3):115-123. doi:10.4103/1817-1737.53347National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for GER & GERD.FDA.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.
Leggett JJ, Johnston BT, Mills M, Gamble J, Heaney LG.Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in difficult asthma.Chest. 2005;127(4):1227-1231. doi:10.1016/S0012-3692(15)34471-8
Ates F, Vaezi MF.Insight into the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and asthma.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2014;10(11):729-736.
Kahrilas PJ.Regurgitation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2013;9(1):37-39.
Gaude GS.Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Ann Thorac Med. 2009;4(3):115-123. doi:10.4103/1817-1737.53347
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for GER & GERD.
FDA.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Patient Information.Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
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