Shortness of breath is defined as a condition when you have trouble breathing or don’t get enough air intake. Shortness of breath can be caused by many factors. Starting from the factors of asthma, sinusitis, low blood pressure, pulmonary embolism, and many more. But did you know, shortness of breath can also be caused by stomach acid?
Shortness of breath can be a symptom of chronic stomach acid or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When stomach acid rises to the lungs, it will squeeze the lungs and become congested.
According to research it was found that about 85 percent of people with asthma have acid reflux disease.
Symptoms of shortness of breath due to stomach acid are chest pain or a burning sensation (heartburn). In addition, sufferers will also experience symptoms such as stomach discomfort, persistent hiccups, flatulence, frequent belching, difficulty swallowing, sore throat and bad breath.
To overcome this, you can do several ways, namely maintaining a healthy lifestyle, maintaining weight, quitting smoking, and avoiding clothes or accessories that are tight around the stomach area. This is intended not to stimulate the increase of stomach acid into the lungs.
In general, shortness of breath due to stomach acid occurs in the morning. For that it is recommended to sleep with your head raised so that the head is higher than the body. This prevents stomach acid from rising to the lungs.
In addition to maintaining life, diet also needs to be regulated. Experts recommend eating a balanced nutritious diet, lying down or sleeping in less than three hours after eating, identifying and avoiding foods that trigger acid reflux.
If you experience the symptoms that have been mentioned, then there are several treatments that can be taken to cure it. One of them is taking drugs such as antacids, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and H2 receptor blockers.
