I once had an old patient who had an intermittent cough for more than 2 months and didn't get better, thinking it was a cold, but he didn't have a runny nose or fever, he felt very anxious, so he came to see me again. I asked about the condition carefully, and combined with all his symptoms, I analyzed the case, and solved the case, which was not a cough caused by a cold at all, but a gastroesophageal reflux.
Gastroesophageal reflux refers to the reflux of gastroduodenal contents into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, belching, chest and back pain, dysphagia, pharyngeal foreign body sensation, cough or choking, wheezing, breathlessness, and chest tightness and shortness of breath. Typical symptoms are heartburn, which is a burning sensation behind the sternum or under the xiphoid process, often extending upward from the lower sternum.
Reflux is the sensation of stomach contents pouring into the pharynx or mouth without nausea or force, and is called acid reflux when it has a sour taste or is just sour water. Heartburn and regurgitation usually occur 1 hour after a meal, and are more likely to occur in the lying position, bending over, or increased abdominal pressure. In patients with long-term reflux, gastric contents irritate the esophagus and throat, which will lead to cough, which is generally a mild or severe cough that lasts for more than 8 weeks, and some patients choke on cough, which can be accompanied by sputum production or reflux in sputum. This cough has nothing to do with a cold, and simple cough medicine will not work. At this time, we should control the reflux first, and when there is no acidic liquid stimulation, we will naturally not cough. Reflux esophagitis should be detected early.
In addition to medical medication as soon as possible, we should also pay attention to maintenance in our lives, and we must do the following:
1.Dietary adjustment: Eat "seven points full" when you eat to reduce the burden on the stomach. Avoid overeating, high fat, sugar and irritating foods, such as chocolate, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol. In addition, try to eat less acidic fruits (oranges, grapefruits, tomatoes, lemons, etc.). You can eat more foods that can suppress stomach acid, protect the stomach mucosa and help digestion, such as yams, okra, pumpkin and cabbage. It is best not to eat late-night snacks so as not to increase the burden on the stomach and intestines. It is strictly forbidden to drink carbonated drinks.
2.Develop a good habit after eating: do not lie down immediately after eating, the position of lying flat will make the food in the stomach and stomach acid easy to reflux back into the esophagus, wait at least 30 minutes after eating before lying down.
3.Appropriate exercise: Obese people generally have greater abdominal pressure, which is easy to cause the cardia relaxation of the gastric and esophageal interface, and they do not like to exercise, and the stomach digestive function is poor after eating, and it is easy to have gastroesophageal reflux. Maintaining proper exercise every week to lose excess body fat is an important principle for preventing and improving reflux.
4.Dress loosely: Tight-fitting clothing can increase abdominal pressure, compress the stomach, and cause the stomach volume to shrink, causing the esophageal sphincter to weaken and cause the stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus after eating. So we have to dress a little looser every day.
5.Keep a happy mood: irregular life and rest, high pressure at work and family, will lead to mood swings, stomach problems are closely related to emotions, so we must maintain a stable mood, do not get angry, depressed, such emotions are harmful to our body.