You can have GERD and only have a cough and none of the other symptoms you would assume you would have if you had heart burn Gastroesophageal reflux disease. The esophagus is an amazing piece of engineering. It can often put up with the acid that builds up from the stomach and will cause you no pain. How ever, the build up of acid in the mouth and throat is the reason for the cough.

Another different type of cough caused by GERD develops as the stomach acid finds its way into the throat and also into your lungs. A very dry cough will be the result and this can be very serious and cause other complications.

You can develop severe breathing disorders. Bronchitis and even pneumonia can be caused from this disease and cough. At this point you should be going to the doctors to get the right medication for you. Ask about natural remedies as well. Any decent doctor will know that being on GERD medication for the long run is not the best option for any patient.

The cause of any chronic cough might not always be readily apparent to you or your doctor and you should ask your doctor what else he or she thinks it might be. There is no harm in being cautious when it comes to your chest and a persistent cough. There may be two or more factors at play causing your cough and fixing one problem will still leave the other.

As I said before, the best way to deal with the cough that comes with Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is treat your gerd and not just the symptoms of your cough.

If the esophagus is exposed to acid for a prolonged period, inflamation of the esophagus can develop (esophagitis) causing erosions. If this damage becomes deep, an ulcer is likely to occur. Ulcers can in turn damage the blood vessels in the esophagus and cause bleeding.

As ulcers heal scar tissue can form which in time can cause a stricture (a narrowing of the esophagus). This can lead to a further problem known as dysplagia in which food becomes lodged in the esophagus.

The acid which is refluxed can affect certain nerves which can then stimulate other nerves that trigger coughing. Nerves that are linked to nerves in the lungs can also be affected by acid in the esophagus and can trigger an asthma attack.

Refluxed acidic liquid can enter the lungs via the larynx. This is known as aspitration and can result in choking and coughing. Aspiration can potentially lead to scarring of the lungs.

A further GERD severe symptom can be the formation of pre-cancerous cells in the esophagus. This condition is known as Barrett’s esophagus. People who develop this particular complication of GERD usually need to be carefully monitored to ensured that cancer preventing treatments can be administered if necessary.

GERD is a condition that develops over time. If it is identified at an early stage often lifestyle/ dietary changes are enough to reduce the esophagus’s level of acid exposure. This usually gives the body an opportunity to attempt to heal the damage that has been done to the esophagus. If the condition is allowed to persist and GERD severe symptoms become apparent, it is likely that medication or even surgery will be required.

Please note that if you are experiencing any signs of ill health, you are strongly advised to consult a Physician.

This problem develops when the ring of muscle between the esophagus and the stomach, known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) starts to malfunction. The purpose of the LES is to act as a valve that opens to let food and liquid into the stomach, closing quickly to contain the stomach’s contents. If the LES becomes weak or starts to open randomly, liquid from the stomach containing acid, pepsin (an enzyme involved in the digestion of protein) and bile can move into esophagus. This can cause irritation and, in some cases, inflamation of the esophagus that is commonly experienced as a burning feeling in the chest and throat known as heartburn.

Although persistent heartburn tends to be a key symptom of GERD, not all sufferers experience this. Other symptoms include: nausea, chronic coughing, a bitter taste in the mouth, regurgitation, wheezing, swallowing difficulties and frequent belching.

There are a range of options open to Physicians when dealing with a suspected case of GERD. On the basis of a detailed medical history and a physical examination, the Physician may prescibe a course of acid reflux medication and followed by a review the patient.

Other tests include: edoscopy – this involves passing a tube that has a built in optical system down a patient’s throat so that the esophagus can be examined ( biopsies can be taken during this procedure, if necessary); X-rays; pH testing- in this procedure a tube is placed into the esophagus via the nose for a 24 hour period. The amount of acid that flows into the esophagus is measured by a sensor at the end of the tube; esophageal mobility testing – tests how effectively the muscles in the esophagus are working. This done by using sensors attached to a catheter that is passed through the nose.

Once GERD has been diagnosed, patients are often asked to make lifestyle changes. They may be asked to make changes to their diet/eating habits, their alcohol intake, their weight (if overweight) and smokers will usually be advised to stop smoking.

In some cases ongoing medication may be necessary and in other instances, surgery will be the most advisable option. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a common condition that is often characterised by persistent heartburn. Anyone experiencing any symptoms that are indicative of this condition should seek medical adivice as soon as possible.The longer this condition is left, the more potential damage can be done to the lining of the esophagus.

So, if you’re experiencing any discomfort that you think may be linked to GERD, don’t suffer in silence. Seek medical attention.