What should you know about acid reflux cough?

A reflux-related cough may follow meals, worsen on lying down, or accompany throat clearing, hoarseness, sour taste, or regurgitation. Some people have little or no typical heartburn, and many other conditions can cause the same cough pattern.

Stomach contents reaching the upper oesophagus or throat can directly irritate sensitive tissues. Reflux lower in the oesophagus may also activate a nerve reflex that prompts coughing. Coughing itself raises pressure inside the abdomen, so reflux and cough can reinforce each other.

Acid reflux can present with chronic cough, yet cough also commonly accompanies airway irritation, asthma, infection, nasal drainage, smoking or vaping exposure, and some medicines. A timing pattern provides a clue rather than a diagnosis, and treatment response alone may not establish the cause.

Note when coughing occurs in relation to food, sleep, exercise, dust, scents, cold air, and medicines. Record heartburn, regurgitation, blocked nose, wheeze, fever, and breathlessness as well. This helps a clinician judge whether reflux is one contributor or whether the airways need separate assessment.

Smaller meals, remaining upright after eating, and elevating the head end of the bed can reduce night reflux. Avoid only foods that repeatedly bring on symptoms. If you smoke or vape, support to stop can benefit both cough and reflux. Follow acid-suppression treatment for the advised period rather than changing the dose yourself.

Seek urgent help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, coughing blood, collapse, confusion, or chest pressure with sweating, faintness, nausea, or spreading pain. Sudden coughing after choking or a possible inhaled object also needs prompt attention.

Arrange a medical review when cough persists, repeatedly wakes you, is worsening, or occurs with wheeze, fever, unexplained weight loss, trouble swallowing, hoarseness that does not settle, or recurrent chest infections. Earlier review is sensible if you have lung disease, reduced immunity, or take a medicine known to cause cough.

Ask which features support reflux, what other cough causes fit, whether your medicines need review, and how improvement will be judged. Mention night symptoms, workplace exposures, smoking or vaping, nasal symptoms, wheeze, voice change, swallowing difficulty, and any previous lung tests.