An interesting July 25, 2008 article from Webb MD helps explain the asthma and GERD connection:
Chronic heartburn may alter the immune system and raise the risk of asthma, according to a new study that helps explain why so many people with asthma also suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
"Researchers say the link between asthma and GERD has been a mystery for years. Previous studies have shown that 50%-90% of people with asthma also suffer from gastric reflux, but until now the relationship between the two conditions was unclear.
The study shows that inhaling small amounts of stomach acid back up into the esophagus and lungs, a hallmark of GERD, slowly produces changes in the immune system that may lead to the development of asthma.”
An article released in CHEST. (2008; 134(6) 1123-1130.) from the United Kingdom documented from the study of 3 million patient charts that patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at a significantly increased risk of GERD. COPD is commonly known as emphysema. They also observed respiratory symptoms improve in patients receiving acid-suppressive therapy for GERD. Since the symptoms and diagnosis of asthma and emphysema commonly overlap it is prudent (but relatively uncommon) to consider GERD as a connecting theme. GERD is often associated with heartburn/indigestion but it is entirely possible to have GERD associated with asthma, emphysema and allergies and have little or no heartburn. This type GERD is thus called “atypical” or “silent”.
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I hope to hear from you soon. Lisa