Gastroesophageal reflux disease coexists with asthma in 80% of people with asthma, with similar symptoms. Various theories say that asthma could facilitate GERD and/or viceversa.

How Can GERD Affect Asthma?

Promoting bronchoconstriction and irritation by chronic acid aspiration, vagally mediated reflexes and others factors that increase bronchial responsiveness and irritation.

How Can Asthma Affect GERD?

The effect of change in thoracic pressures could facilitate the passage of the gastric content back into the oesophagus by increasing abdominal pressure or decreasing the lower esophageal sphincter. However, most inhaled bronchodilators used in the U.S. do not cause this problem.

Editor’s Note: Mehtab Sami is a fourth year medical student in Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore.

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