Acid Reflux's Impact on Breathing

While many people consider acid reflux and heartburn symptoms to be simple annoyances, there is mounting evidence that it can lead to much more serious diseases. The evidence linking acid reflux and esophageal cancer continues to mount.

A new report also shows that acid reflux may impact normal breathing and lung function. The report, from the University of Florida, suggests that acid reflux doubles Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a slowly progressive disease of the airways that is characterized by a gradual loss of lung function (source: National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute).

While that may sound confusing, COPD basically decreases your ability to breathe normally and gets worse over time. Most people would be shocked to discover it is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Symptoms of COPD can include chronic cough, excess phlegm or sputum, and shortness of breath. It manifests itself as bronchitis, emphysema or combinations of these conditions. It should come as no surprise that COPD is frequently linked to smoking, which also aggravates heartburn and acid reflux.

Dealing with acid reflux and its symptoms, while challenging, is not impossible. See our 5 Easy Tips on things you can do to combat this disease.

For more information on COPD, the American Lung Association has a good overview.