acid reflux string

January 17, 2004

I learn so much from everyone on this list! Thanks.

Has anyone had an asthma attack triggered by an isolated incident of acid

reflux? I woke up from sleep recently with a great start because of pain in

my throat/chest. It was obviously acid reflux, but I've never had this

before so it was a very strange and uncomfortable sensation.. And then the

asthma kicked in with the worst, fastest attack I've ever had, I think (and

I left my inhaler at school because I use it so infrequently). How could

this be?

Lenore

January 17, 2004

I don't know much about asthma. My son has allergy/excercised induced asthma.

It's very mild. He's only used his inhaler about 4 times when he weezed and

gots short of breath while excercising.

Can anxiety trigger an asthma attack?

January 17, 2004

Can anxiety trigger an asthma attack?

Yes, Indeed.

Per " A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology " by Werner:

" Asthma may be brought about by external factors such as alleriges,

but it is also directly linked to internal factors, such as

emotional stress. "

It goes on to say that three basic types of asthma have been

identified: Extrinsic (allergic reactions), Intrinsic (such as

stress related),and Mixed (combination of both).

Symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, possible

excess mucus production. " If symptoms are extreme and prolonged,

the asthmatic person may start to feel panicky, adding sweating,

increased heart rate, and anxiety to the list of symptoms. "

For Treatment:

" Medical treatment for extrinsic asthma begins with trying to

identify and avoid the stimuli that cause the attacks. If someone

is very familiar with her problem and is capable of predicting when

her attacks will occur, prophylactic drugs may be taken on a short-

term basis. These generally start with bronchodilators: variations

on adrenaline that dilate the bronchioles without the other

sympathetic nervous system effects. If broncodilators are

insufficient, steroids may be administered for their anti-

inflammatory action. These have serious side effects, however, and

cannot be used successfully for very long. In emergency situations,

adrenaline may be injected. This restimulates the sympathetic

nervous system and redilates the bronchi, but can also cause panic-

like symptoms. "

Massage:

Massage is absolutely indicated for asthma in the postacute stage.

Massage can help with the number of different muscular reflections

of asthma that someone who struggles with the problem will probably

have. Watch for hypertonic intercostals, scalenes, serratus

posterior inferior, and diaphragm. These muscles of inspiration will

be chronically tight for someone who doesn't breathe easily, and the

tightness will further interfere with her breathing. "

January 17, 2004

In a message dated 1/18/04 12:34:20 AM Eastern Standard Time,

lrh@... writes:

<< How could

this be? >>

While you were sleeping acid/contents of the stomch refluxed up into your

throat, which you most likely sucked a little into yur lungs.....causing the

rapid, severe asthma attack. I have awoken in the night from this with that

same

thing. This is also how I figured out that my son had reflux too. I was

going in his room too frequently in the middle of the night. I took him ot the

doc and she said his throat was scalded from the acid reflux.

Hugs,

Sue

January 18, 2004

has had several rounds of pneumonia as a result of his reflux. A few

times he has been hospitalized as a result.

C.

January 18, 2004

has had several rounds of pneumonia as a result of his reflux. A few

times he has been hospitalized as a result.

C.

January 18, 2004

has had several rounds of pneumonia as a result of his reflux. A few

times he has been hospitalized as a result.

C.

January 18, 2004

Really? So does that mean the acid gets into his lungs - right?

It sounds like that could be very serious. Could the acid actually get in there

and burn a hole in the lung?

Did it cause any more damage than just the pneumonia?

I don't like the sound of this. Quite disturbing. Is this rare?

I'm thinking it could happen if you cough or burp up acid, then inhale it.

Or is there another way you could get pneumonia from reflux?

January 18, 2004

Really? So does that mean the acid gets into his lungs - right?

It sounds like that could be very serious. Could the acid actually get in there

and burn a hole in the lung?

Did it cause any more damage than just the pneumonia?

I don't like the sound of this. Quite disturbing. Is this rare?

I'm thinking it could happen if you cough or burp up acid, then inhale it.

Or is there another way you could get pneumonia from reflux?

January 18, 2004

Really? So does that mean the acid gets into his lungs - right?

It sounds like that could be very serious. Could the acid actually get in there

and burn a hole in the lung?

Did it cause any more damage than just the pneumonia?

I don't like the sound of this. Quite disturbing. Is this rare?

I'm thinking it could happen if you cough or burp up acid, then inhale it.

Or is there another way you could get pneumonia from reflux?

January 18, 2004

So does that mean the acid gets into his lungs - right?

----------------------

Yes - it can get into the lungs.

That book I quoted yesterday also says this " If the contents

reguritate into the respiratory tract the person may have lung

infection. "

As for burning holes, yes, it theoretically could be possible.

Again, stomach acid is an extremely strong corrosive and the

bronchial tubes of the lungs are extremely sensitive. But I would

think that the potential for actual " holes " in the lungs would be

far less than in the esophogus itself simply based on how much is

going to go/get to either of them. In other words, far greater

concentrations are going to hit the esophogus compared to the lungs.

January 18, 2004

So does that mean the acid gets into his lungs - right?

----------------------

Yes - it can get into the lungs.

That book I quoted yesterday also says this " If the contents

reguritate into the respiratory tract the person may have lung

infection. "

As for burning holes, yes, it theoretically could be possible.

Again, stomach acid is an extremely strong corrosive and the

bronchial tubes of the lungs are extremely sensitive. But I would

think that the potential for actual " holes " in the lungs would be

far less than in the esophogus itself simply based on how much is

going to go/get to either of them. In other words, far greater

concentrations are going to hit the esophogus compared to the lungs.

January 18, 2004

As we all have been reading, reflux can cause several different problems and

can do it silently too. Sara's and my allergist is always on a crusade about

it with us and was before it became " popular " in commercials. It definately

contributes to both of our asthma .

He sent me once to an ENT doc who subjected me to one of those exams with a

tube down your nose and throat. Lots of fun. What he said though was how bad my

reflux was, even on twice a day Nexium and prescriptiojn Zantac to boot. He

said that there was damage to my vocal cords and tonsils. I knew that my voice

was hoarse and I couldn't reach high notes in my pitiful attempt to sing but

had no idea that acid had damaged them and my tonsils!!

January 19, 2004

now that is interesting as i am an extrinsic (allergic) asthmatic and

am prone to chest infections, i get 1-2 a year (smetimes more) i

always just assumed my asthma was the culprit but now i wonder if my

GERD could be a factor (although i was only diagnosed a month or 2

ago, the tenderness below my rib cage (almost centrally) has been

there since i was about 18, this is to do with the GERD or the

suspected peptic ulcer (or so the ER (after a VERY frightening

emergecy visit) and my GP say). i wonder if i have had the GERD for a

lot longer than i thought, but without a lot of visible symptoms is

this possible???? (in hindsite a few things that we couldn't really

explain from the age of about 18 could be explained).

Sharon

Australia

>

> So does that mean the acid gets into his lungs - right?

>

> ----------------------

>

> Yes - it can get into the lungs.

>

> That book I quoted yesterday also says this " If the contents

> reguritate into the respiratory tract the person may have lung

> infection. "

>

> As for burning holes, yes, it theoretically could be possible.

> Again, stomach acid is an extremely strong corrosive and the

> bronchial tubes of the lungs are extremely sensitive. But I would

> think that the potential for actual " holes " in the lungs would be

> far less than in the esophogus itself simply based on how much is

> going to go/get to either of them. In other words, far greater

> concentrations are going to hit the esophogus compared to the lungs.

January 19, 2004