Bloating and coughing are completely different things. One involves the digestive system, while the other involves the respiratory system. In general, symptoms of a problem in one system rarely manifest itself in the other. There is, however, one scenario when bloating can be accompanied by a dry cough and that is gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a condition where contents of the stomach travel upwards through the esophagus. Usually, this is prevented by a ring of muscles at the end of the esophagus. When this ring does not close completely, it allows stomach contents upwards. The condition is usually triggered by eating anything that causes bloating in the stomach such as drinking carbonated drinks and eating lentils and other high fat products that are known to cause bloating, etc. When the stomach contents travel upwards, the acid in it irritates the esophagus, invariably this manifests itself as heartburn or a burning sensation behind the breastbone. However, many cases of gastroesophagal reflux disease do not show heartburn; they, they manifest as a dry cough. This dry cough is triggered by the stomach contents irritating the esophagus.
The only definite way to prove gastroesophagal reflux disease is to determine the ph level of the stomach. This test, however, is both expensive as well as time consuming.
What are the symptoms of gastroesophagal reflux disease?
The most common symptoms are:
- Heartburn
- Vomiting
- Belching
- Regurgitating food
- Chronic cough or wheezing
- Chronic sore throat
- Hoarseness and/or difficulty swallowing
- Chest pain
What are the risk factors?
There are a number of risk factors, including ethnicity, for gastroesophagal reflux disease. The most common are listed below.
- Having heavy meals
- Lying down or bending down or sleeping after a meal
- Eating before exercising
- Esophageal surgery
- Esophageal stricture
- Smoking
- Consuming alcohol
- Stress
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD
- Sleeping disorders
- Celiac disease
Treatment
The only way to treat the disease is to eliminate the reflux, and since this is the reason for the chronic dry cough, it too will disappear once the reflux is treated. Depending on the severity and the cause of the reflux, treatment can be anything ranging from waiting for an hour after meals before sleeping to taking antacids. Other simple home remedies can be not eating heavy meals, avoiding acidic foods such as caffeinated drinks, carbonated beverages, alcoholic substances, chocolate, and mint. Avoiding fatty foods, reducing stress, quitting smoking, and exercising can also help.
In case these simple home remedies do not help, then medical intervention may become necessary. Please consult with a doctor rather than self-medicate.
References:
- http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mens_Health_Watch/2010/September/that-nagging-cough
- http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/gastroesophageal-reflux-000068.htm
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000265.htm
answered by A S