Gastric acid not only triggers complaints such as a burning sensation in the chest, nausea to pain in the pit of the stomach, but also shortness of breath .
Yes, shortness of breath is a common problem that people with stomach acid often complain about .
Sometimes the symptoms can vary, some feel difficulty when taking a breath, breathing feels heavy to the point of making it seem as if they are about to faint.
Actually, this condition needs to be watched out for because it might lead to life-threatening respiratory complications.
Causes of shortness of breath due to gastric acid disease
It is important for people with stomach acid to know the cause of shortness of breath when the disease recurs.
The reason is shortness of breath can appear not only because of stomach acid , but also several other factors that are often not realized.
For example, not making efforts to treat and prevent stomach acid in the long term and wrong posture.
By knowing the cause, at least complaints of shortness of breath can be managed in an appropriate way so that the condition does not get worse.
Launching Well and Good , the following are the causes of shortness of breath due to stomach acid.
1. Irritation in the respiratory tract
Stomach acid that is not managed properly can potentially irritate other parts of the body, causing pain to swelling.
Especially in the respiratory tract such as the esophagus to the lungs.
When stomach acid recurs, the airways respond by deploying defense mechanisms such as coughing, causing excessive mucus in the lungs.
As a result, the airways become irritated, swollen and make it difficult for someone to breathe. Usually this condition is experienced by patients with stomach acid in the long term.
2. It will be worse if experienced by people with asthma
Acid reflux can make the condition worse, especially if a person has a preexisting respiratory problem, such as asthma.
3. Wrong posture
The tendency of shortness of breath in people with stomach acid occurs more often due to wrong posture.
For example stomach acid and shortness of breath more easily fall asleep, because in this condition gravity plays a role in the movement of acidic fluids in the stomach.
Then the stomach acid causes damage to the lungs, making it difficult for the patient to breathe.
Therefore, when stomach acid rises or recurs, it's good to improve our posture so it doesn't trigger shortness of breath.
How to deal with shortness of breath due to stomach acid
Complaints of shortness of breath due to stomach acid can actually be prevented and handled in simple ways.
Here's how to deal with shortness of breath due to stomach acid , as said by Deborah Lee, MD, a general practitioner from Dr. online pharmacy. Fox .
1. Improve posture
A simple way to deal with shortness of breath when stomach acid rises is to improve our posture.
For example, sit up straight and relax. This method aims to keep stomach acid from rising to the chest.
If it recurs while resting at night, then the best way is to elevate your headrest or pillow so that stomach acid doesn't trigger shortness of breath.
2. Use the diaphragmatic breathing technique
Diaphragmatic breathing can also minimize shortness of breath that recurs due to stomach acid.
The trick is to inhale through the nose into the diaphragm (under the chest and above the stomach).
This breathing technique will make the stomach and chest expand together.
After that exhale slowly, then inhale again through the nose while feeling the chest and stomach expand. This method can be repeated until breathing feels relieved.
3. Take stomach acid medicine
When these two methods don't help, usually taking stomach acid medicine can relieve symptoms of acid reflux as well as shortness of breath.
4. Avoid triggering stomach acid to rise
After everything returns to normal, then we need to change our lifestyle which can trigger stomach acid to rise.
For example, reducing consumption of soft drinks, spicy foods, sour foods, coffee, chocolate, avoid smoking and avoid eating late at night.
