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Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Few people realize that diseases of the stomach and esophagus can be directly related to a cough that suddenly appears. When such symptoms occur, the culprits are usually considered to be a cold, flu or acute respiratory viral infection.

But very often, when a cough appears, there is no runny nose, weakness throughout the body, and the thermometer does not rise above normal.

Such circumstances generally indicate that a person has developed problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

The nature of reflux

Reflux is the reverse movement of undigested foods that have become saturated with gastric juice. The moving food particles are called reflux. This phenomenon occurs due to the fact that the special valve between the stomach and esophagus does not completely close.

This valve has a name - the lower esophageal sphincter; it can weaken and not close enough for many reasons. Let's consider the main ones:

  • If there is increased pressure inside the abdominal cavity. This happens when a person has a large amount of gas or liquid, the intestines are full, there are large tumors, or the woman is pregnant.
  • When the abdominal wall is compressed, for example, if a person bends over sharply, wears tight belts, or does any effort that strains the abdominal muscles.
  • When there is strong pressure on the stomach, when a person overeats, evacuation is delayed or a large amount of gas accumulates.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

  • If a person has taken a lot of medications, junk food and alcoholic drinks.
  • When the patient has a lot of excess weight, especially when there is a “beer belly”.
  • The sphincter may also weaken due to age-related decreases in muscle tone.

If reflux occurs very often and complications and certain symptoms are observed, for example, heartburn, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach or behind the chest, then this means that gastroesophageal reflux disease is developing.

Refluxes generally occur when the lower esophageal sphincter becomes temporarily weakened. However, there are cases when the cause of reflux is a constantly weakened muscle sphincter.

Gastroesophageal reflux - what is it?

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or reflux esophagitis is a fairly common disease that occurs due to dysfunction of the stomach and esophagus. It is mainly encountered by the category of the population that has increased acidity.

Salty, sour and spicy foods lead to irritation of the mucous membranes, which causes damage to form over time. As a result, tiny portions of undigested food pass from the stomach back into the esophagus.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

What are the reasons for coughing?

Coughing is a protective reaction of the body; its main purpose is to rid the respiratory system of accumulated mucus and foreign particles that accidentally get there. The most common causes of cough are:

  • penetration of infection into the respiratory system, which leads to its damage;
  • presence of allergic diseases;
  • the presence of various tumors in the respiratory system;
  • compression of the bronchi by an aortic aneurysm;
  • the presence of external factors that lead to bronchial irritation.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

If a person suffers from a strong, prolonged cough, the pressure in the chest may increase, blood circulation in the chest cavity may be impaired and the strength of heart contractions may decrease, which can lead to the formation of emphysema.

Symptoms of reflux disease

Reflux can cause symptoms that are not usually associated with problems with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Such manifestations are very often confused with other diseases and the wrong treatment is started, which only aggravates the situation. To prevent this from happening, you need to know exactly what symptoms indicate an esophageal cough:

  • sore throat;
  • cough that becomes much worse during sleep;
  • belching with a sour taste;
  • hypersensitivity of teeth;
  • wheezing in the lungs;
  • labored breathing;
  • hoarseness of voice.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

You can be convinced that the cough is really caused by reflux disease when the prescribed treatment eliminates this symptom or at least significantly reduces it.

By what mechanism does esophageal cough occur?

In order to promptly suspect emerging health problems and begin treatment immediately, you need to understand what exactly causes esophageal cough. There are two reasons for this.

The first is that microscopic food particles enter the respiratory system and irritate it - this phenomenon is called microaspiration. When any foreign body enters the larynx, nasopharynx or trachea, the receptors are irritated and activate the cough center.

If the food mass is highly acidic, then the mucous membranes of the stomach and esophagus usually become inflamed and modified. However, reflux esophagitis is not always accompanied by these symptoms; this disease often occurs with the only symptom in the form of cough.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

The second reason is explained by the penetration of food microparticles into the esophagus, which causes irritation of special, so-called vagal receptors, which are located in the lower part of the organ. They send a signal to the central part of the brain, resulting in a cough.

If, under such circumstances, an X-ray examination of the chest is performed, then no changes will be visible in it or in the mucous membrane of the larynx. If the cough is caused by this particular reason, then it is accompanied by the classic symptoms of reflux esophagitis and, if left untreated, it can continue for many years.

Character of the cough

The cough with esophagitis is mostly dry, that is, without mucus discharge. In this case, the patient experiences pain in the throat, which is why the disease is often confused with a sore throat, and this symptomatology is accompanied by belching with an unpleasant sour taste.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

However, with reflux esophagitis it is very difficult to determine what type of cough it is. This is due to the fact that during involuntary acts, a certain volume of air is released from the larynx, accompanied by strong belching, which a person often mistakes for phlegm.

Treatment

The treatment process for a disease such as gastroesophageal reflux continues for a long time. To alleviate the patient’s condition and remove the accompanying symptoms, a comprehensive therapeutic approach is necessary. It depends on the stage at which the disease occurs and the state of the mucous membrane of the esophageal wall.

In order for the treatment to be as effective as possible, it is necessary, first of all, to reduce the acidity of gastric juice.

Each stage of the disease requires a special treatment approach. Therapy should continue for at least 3 months after the cough is eliminated, and the medications used should be gradually discontinued.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

The treatment process for esophageal cough is divided according to the intensity of the impact and involves the following stages:

  • treatment with antacids;
  • H2 receptor blocker therapy, which for greater effectiveness should be combined with prokinetics;
  • for a more stringent therapeutic process, proton pump inhibitors are used;
  • surgical intervention.

Also, in order for therapeutic therapy to bring maximum effect and the disease to recede as soon as possible, you need to radically change your lifestyle and strictly monitor proper nutrition. In addition, it is necessary to load the body with adequate physical activity, stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

If you try to lose extra pounds, the pressure inside the abdominal cavity will decrease, and the diaphragm will be less overloaded, which plays a very important role in recovery.

A person experiencing gastroesophageal reflux needs to understand that this disease is chronic.

In this regard, if cough relapses occur after the end of treatment, it may be necessary to periodically repeat long-term and complex treatment therapy.

Therefore, as soon as the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary, without wasting much time, to undergo a full examination in order to identify the cause of the symptoms and begin effective treatment in a timely manner.

What could be the cause of a cough will be discussed in the video:

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Sore throat

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This feeling of a sore throat is known to any person from an early age. There is discomfort in the throat area, and we immediately go to the medicine cabinet for medicine.

But before taking pills, it is worth understanding and finding out the causes of a sore throat, since this symptom is not classified as a separate disease, but is considered only an investigative manifestation of another pathology.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

ICD-10 code

Causes of sore throat

In most cases, the cause of a sore throat is progressive inflammation in the pharynx:

  • Acute or chronic pharyngitis, accompanied by fever and pain.
  • Angina.
  • Tracheitis.
  • ARVI.
  • Nasopharyngitis.
  • Whooping cough.
  • Laryngitis.
  • Flu.

Pharyngeal neuralgia. A pathological condition of the swallowing apparatus, caused by malfunctions of the central nervous system or nerve analyzers in the brain.

In addition to rawness in the larynx area, accompanying symptoms also appear: loss of sensitivity of the mucous membrane, burning, sensation of a constant lump in the throat, pain that “radiates” to the tongue and ear, excessive sensitivity of the tissues of the pharynx. This pathology is caused by:

  • Syphilis.
  • Malignant and benign tumors.
  • Other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Allergic reaction of the body to external or internal irritants:

  • Book dust.
  • Dry air in the room, leading to drying out of the pharyngeal mucosa.
  • Work in a dusty, poorly ventilated area.
  • Plant pollen.
  • Animal fur.
  • Taking medications.

Source: https://vsakura.ru/gorlo/gryzha-pischevoda-pershenie-v-gorle/

Cough with esophagitis what to do

Cough with reflux esophagitis is one of the common symptoms that few people pay attention to. Appears periodically when changing position, bending, after sleep. Never accompanied by fever, chills, or rhinitis. The cough is mostly dry, but a small amount of sputum may be present.

What does it come from?

The main reason lies in increased stomach acidity, weakening of the sphincter and protective mechanisms. The process of food movement in the human body has been well studied.

From the larynx, food enters the esophagus; with the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, it is not possible to return back. It then moves from the esophagus to the stomach; the reverse movement of the contents is resisted by a special valve - the sphincter.

After digestion, food enters the duodenum and does not have the ability to return to the stomach.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Causes

Cough with reflux esophagitis appears for the same reasons as the reflux itself. This is an increase in stomach acidity, allowing the contents to move into the esophagus, with possible penetration into the trachea. Promotes cough:

  • Torso bends;
  • Strong laughter;
  • Lifting weights;
  • Active physical activity;
  • Lying down, especially immediately after eating.

In addition, gastric juice, once in the esophagus, acts like a chemical burn, and when it enters the larynx, it irritates the mucous membrane, causing a cough.

Another common, completely harmless reason is compression of the sternum by tight clothing or underwear. To get rid of heartburn, belching, cough, you just need to eliminate this factor, facilitate the functioning of the digestive tract and respiratory system.

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Often a reverse reaction of the body occurs - when, against the background of lung diseases with a cough, indigestion appears, pain in the stomach, and acidity increases. In this case, it is necessary to treat two pathologies at once, selecting the appropriate medications.

Cough with reflux esophagitis can also occur when the disease develops against the background of a bacterial infection. Gastritis and esophagitis are often caused by Helicobacter bacteria. With their active reproduction, other pathogenic microorganisms also have the opportunity to develop. A cough appears, which is treated in this case with antibiotics.

Nervous stress, shock, tension leads to spasm. For the gastrointestinal tract, this is dangerous due to the appearance of heartburn, belching, chest pain, slow digestion, and for the lungs – spasm. The combined adverse effect of one factor on different internal systems leads to dubious symptoms.

Symptoms of cough with reflux esophagitis

Many people associate the presence of a cough with diseases of the respiratory system, lungs, and colds. However, in this case, the cough has its own characteristics:

  • Not accompanied by an increase in temperature;
  • There is no rhinitis, but sore throat and sore throat may occur;
  • It goes away without special means when treating the stomach;
  • Symptoms remain after taking cough tablets;
  • Intensifies in the morning, after sleep.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

How to get rid of cough with reflux esophagitis

Cough is one of the symptoms of reflux esophagitis, along with heartburn, belching, nausea, bloating, sore throat, etc. To get rid of any of these symptoms, you need to eliminate the influence of irritating factors, reduce acidity, and increase sphincter tone. To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is necessary to follow certain rules of behavior and nutrition.

  • Eat in small portions, chew thoroughly, and do not talk while eating.
  • Do not drink too much water, avoid carbonated drinks and sour juices.
  • Immediately after eating, you should not lift weights, bend over, squat, or lie down. The best position is sitting with your back straight. After half an hour, you can continue vigorous activity or go to bed to rest.
  • One of the causes of cough with reflux esophagitis is the penetration of gastric juice into the larynx and trachea during sleep. To avoid this, you need to sleep with your head elevated to reduce the likelihood of stomach contents moving through the relaxed sphincter.
  • Move more. In the process of movement, intestinal function is activated, digestion is improved, and the level of hydrochloric acid decreases.
  • Do not overeat, have dinner no later than 2 hours before bedtime. Dishes should be light. Each product requires a different time to break down. At night, all life processes slow down, so it is difficult for the stomach to digest food, resulting in heartburn, belching, and then a dry cough.
  • Quit smoking and alcoholic beverages, which are the main causes of gastrointestinal and lung diseases. The situation is especially dangerous in the presence of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Normalize nutrition, create the right diet, avoid foods that provoke increased production of hydrochloric acid, heartburn, and belching. These include sweets, fatty, spicy, salty, fried foods, carbonated drinks, coffee, cabbage, tomatoes, legumes, sunflower oil, nuts.

After normalization of acidity, the symptoms of reflux esophagitis, including cough, disappear.

Treatment for adults

  • To get rid of unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to undergo comprehensive treatment, change your lifestyle, adjust your diet, and minimize the effect of irritating factors.
  • Medicines to reduce acidity, eliminate heartburn, belching, cough
  • Pharmacies offer a wide range of products to normalize hydrochloric acid levels.
  • Antacids. They help well with minor manifestations of belching, heartburn, and symptoms not related to the disease. An example of this could be nervous stress, wearing tight clothes, physical activity after eating. The drugs act locally, neutralize gastric juice, and prevent irritation of the mucous membrane. Thanks to this, acidity is reduced, heartburn, belching, and other unpleasant symptoms of GERD are eliminated. You can take it for a long time - about a month. Effective drugs are produced in the form of suspensions, lozenges, and gel. Gastal, Gaviscon, Phosphalugel, Maalox, Almagel, Rennie. Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do
  • Proton pump inhibitors. It is advisable to take the drugs in the presence of cough against the background of gastrointestinal diseases, with persistent exacerbation. And also after prolonged exposure to adverse factors - taking antibiotics, hormonal drugs, bad habits, poor nutrition. The products lower the level of hydrochloric acid, protect the mucous membrane from deformations, ulcers, erosions, promote wound healing, and stop inflammation. The drugs have a number of contraindications and side effects, so they should be taken after consultation with a specialist. The course of therapy ranges from 7 days to several months, depending on the complexity of the disease. Effective drugs - Omez, Omeprazole, Ranitidine.
  • Prokinetics. Medicines improve digestion, increase sphincter tone, and reduce pressure in the digestive organs. Modern medications take 1 tablet per day. Prominent representatives of this group of medications are Motilium, Motillac, Domrid. The same drugs are prescribed for reflux esophagitis and cough due to low acidity and decreased digestive ability.

There is no need to take special cough medications. The therapeutic effect occurs within a few days after the start of active treatment. At the same time, you need to follow a diet, not be nervous, normalize your sleep, and get your physical activity in order.

Treatment for children

In severe cases, cough therapy for reflux esophagitis is carried out using medications intended for adults. An individual dosage and treatment period are selected.

Medicines for young children are produced mainly in the form of suspensions with a pleasant taste.

In most cases, to treat children from reflux esophagitis and cough, a strict diet is prescribed for 14-30 days with further adherence to nutritional rules and lifestyle.

  Barking cough with bronchitis treatment

  • Carbonated drinks;
  • Chocolate;
  • Beer;
  • Candies;
  • Sweets with a lot of cream;
  • Ice cream;
  • Marmalade;
  • Candies;
  • Cocoa;
  • Coffee;
  • Hard cheese, processed;
  • Spices;
  • Spicy, fatty, salty dishes;
  • Mayonnaise;
  • Ketchup;
  • Honey;
  • Cabbage;
  • Legumes;
  • Apples;
  • Citrus;
  • Grape;
  • Raspberries;
  • Strawberries;
  • Plums;
  • Cherries;
  • Apricot;
  • Tomatoes;
  • Pepper;
  • Black bread;
  • Fresh baked goods;
  • Pasta;
  • Fat meat;
  • Corn.Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Introduce into the diet:

  • Milk;
  • Cottage cheese;
  • Kefir;
  • Homemade yogurt;
  • Dried fruits;
  • Butter;
  • Watermelon;
  • Melon;
  • Zucchini;
  • Chicken, turkey meat;
  • Fish;
  • Eggs;
  • Buckwheat;
  • Rice;
  • Oatmeal;
  • Semolina;
  • Banana;
  • Sweet apple;
  • Pear;
  • Kissel;
  • White bread;
  • Cracker cookies;
  • Drying;
  • Straw;
  • Bagels.

Avoid products with added chemical ingredients, semi-finished products, and fast foods. The daily diet should include porridge, soups, fermented milk products, vegetable puree, stew, still mineral water, tea based on medicinal herbs. Ensure normal psycho-emotional rest, rest, healthy sleep.

People's secrets

To get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of esophagitis, you can do without medications. Many folk remedies solve the problem in a few days or immediately.

  • Milk. To reduce acidity, drink warm milk with a small amount of baking soda in small sips. You need to drink at least 100 ml of the product at a time. If heartburn, cough, or belching is caused by a reduced amount of hydrochloric acid, drink cold milk with honey. Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do
  • Egg. For therapeutic purposes, raw chicken and quail eggs are used. You can add a small amount of lemon juice. Acts like an antacid - protects the mucous membrane, neutralizes gastric juice. With long-term consumption of quail eggs, digestion and intestinal balance are normalized.
  • Potato, carrot juice. To extinguish acidity, you need to drink 50-100 ml of fresh juice from potatoes and carrots. Allowed to combine. Suitable for long-term therapy. Be sure to take it in the morning on an empty stomach.
  • Mineral water. Extinguishes acid, removes toxins, resists bloating. You only need to drink non-carbonated water. To treat the disease, it is recommended to drink at least 1 bottle per day with a capacity of 1.5 liters.
  • Flax seeds. An excellent remedy for treatment and prevention. Suitable for absolutely everyone. Pour boiled water over the seeds and cook for 15 minutes over low heat. After cooling, strain. Take 1 tbsp. Spoon 4 times a day in between meals.

To quickly eliminate heartburn and an unpleasant cough, you need to eat a piece of butter, drink a sip of milk, and if unpleasant symptoms appear against the background of low acidity, a spoonful of honey.

Prevention

To prevent the development of reflux esophagitis and cough, you need to eat right, lead a healthy lifestyle, and promptly seek help from specialists.

  • Give up bad habits - alcohol, smoking, coffee on an empty stomach, sweets, snacks at night.
  • Have dinner no later than 2 hours before bedtime.
  • Watch your weight.
  • Normalize your diet.
  • Minimize the consumption of spicy, fatty, fried, salty foods, sweets, and carbonated drinks.
  • Do not lie down immediately after eating.
  • Start physical activity no earlier than 20 minutes after a meal.
  • Wear comfortable clothes.
  • Eat slowly, chewing each bite thoroughly.

In addition, you need to avoid stress, nervous tension, lead an active lifestyle, walk more, and be in the fresh air.

Reviews

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Karina : “My husband had a dry cough in the morning for a while, but during the day everything was fine. There were no other signs of a cold. The character is reminiscent of a smoker's cough, but my husband does not smoke. After a while he began to complain of heartburn and belching. These symptoms were treated and the cough disappeared.”

Elena : “With reflux esophagitis, the laryngeal mucosa is constantly irritated, and a cough may appear periodically. There is nothing dangerous or serious about this if you pay attention to the problem in a timely manner. I had to go on a diet for 2 weeks to normalize acidity, get rid of dry cough and other unpleasant symptoms.”

Video

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Causes and treatment of cough with reflux esophagitis

Cough is not just an unpleasant symptom. It is caused by any irritation of the inner surface of the larynx, trachea and bronchi. Without finding out the cause of these irritations, it is impossible to begin adequate treatment and relieve the debilitating painful manifestation.

The nature of reflux

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

The entry of microscopic portions of food from the stomach into the esophagus is caused by incomplete closure of a special valve between them. Weakness of this valve, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) or cardia, is due to the following reasons:

  • increased pressure inside the abdominal cavity due to organic causes (increased flatulence, pregnancy, intestinal fullness, the presence of large tumors, accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity);
  • age-related weakening of the muscle tone of the LES;
  • mechanical compression of the abdominal wall (during sharp bends, wearing tight belts) and any efforts that cause tension in its muscles;
  • excess pressure in the stomach (due to overeating, delayed evacuation of food or accumulation of gases);
  • consumption of a number of drugs and products, especially alcohol;
  • overweight, especially if you have a beer belly.

Episodes of reflux that have become systematic, combined with complications and characteristic symptoms (heartburn, pain and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach or behind the sternum) suggest the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The phenomenon of reflux often occurs against the background of a temporary weakening of the LES. But sometimes reflux occurs due to a constant decrease in the muscle tone of the sphincter.

Causes and consequences of prolonged cough

The protective role of coughing is that coughing movements remove phlegm and foreign particles from the respiratory tract. The most likely causes of cough are:

  • infections affecting the respiratory tract;
  • allergic diseases;
  • respiratory tract tumors;
  • aortic aneurysm compressing the bronchi;
  • external factors of chemical irritation of the bronchi.

A severe, prolonged cough of any etiology leads to increased pressure in the chest, impaired circulation in the chest cavity and a decrease in the strength of heart contractions. Chronic cough weakens the elasticity of lung tissue and can lead to the development of emphysema.

Read also:  Treatment of cough at home in adults: basic techniques

Mechanisms of cough in reflux esophagitis

GERD can cause symptoms that at first glance are difficult to associate with disorders of the digestive tract: a sore throat, cough that gets worse at night, shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, hoarseness or falsetto. Indirect confirmation of the connection between GERD and cough is the fact that specific treatment of GERD leads to its disappearance or significant reduction.

There are two causes of cough due to GERD:

1) The throwing of tiny particles of gastric contents into the respiratory tract is called microaspiration. Reflux microparticles play the role of a chemical irritant of the respiratory tract.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

High acidity of the food mass usually causes inflammatory changes in the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus - gastrointestinal symptoms. But inflammation of the walls of the esophagus (esophagitis) does not always accompany GERD: it may have a single symptom in the form of cough.

Source: https://ckiom.ru/kashel/kashel-pri-ezofagite-chto-delat/

Combination of cough and reflux esophagitis

The basis of reflux esophagitis is the non-physiological regular penetration of aggressive stomach contents into the esophagus with its burn and inflammation.

Many patients do not associate a symptom such as cough that occurs with reflux esophagitis with this pathology.

It is more often attributed to a cold and resulting bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, but not to a disease of the esophagus or stomach.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Bronchopulmonary manifestations of GERD include chronic cough

Coughing with reflux esophagitis is common and is a signal of penetration of gastric contents into the trachea. Therefore, if a cough occurs, but there are no other manifestations of pulmonary pathologies and colds (fever, runny nose), then we can assume that its cause is gastroesophageal reflux, which led to esophagitis.

Normally, when swallowing, food cannot penetrate the trachea and further into the bronchi, due to the fact that the epiglottis covers the entrance to the trachea and the food moves into the esophagus. Then from the esophagus through the esophagogastric sphincter it moves into the stomach. After which the sphincter closes.

If this sphincter fails, the contents of the stomach return to the esophagus. It is impossible to exclude the penetration of these substances into the trachea. Any irritation of the tracheobronchial tree, including reflux contents from the lumen of the stomach, activates the protective reaction of the lungs - cough.

Thus, cough with reflex esophagitis is explained by the same reason as esophagitis itself: the aggressive effect of gastric contents.

Penetration of reflex contents (aspiration) can have a variety of consequences: the absence of any manifestations, an unproductive short-term cough, lung pathologies with varying degrees of respiratory failure, and even the death of the patient.

Reflux of gastric contents often does not lead to significant pulmonary changes. It has been proven that in 40-45% of people, even those who do not have reflux esophagitis, penetration of contents from the esophagus into the respiratory system occurs. This happens more often at night during sleep. That is, the mere fact of the presence of contents from the stomach and esophagus in the bronchi is not enough for the development of pulmonary pathology.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Cough with GERD indicates involvement of the bronchopulmonary system in the process

The following components are important:

  • volume of reflux contents from the stomach;
  • his character;
  • acidity level;
  • the number of pathological microorganisms and their level of danger;
  • the state of immunity and protective forces of the entire body and lung tissue, including.

Cough as a symptom of lung pathology

A cough can be not only a symptom of tracheal irritation, but also a manifestation of lung diseases resulting from exposure to gastroesophageal contents:

  1. Bronchitis.
  2. Aspiration pneumonia. The proportion of pneumonia that arose due to the penetration of gastric contents into the respiratory tract (aspiration) accounts for almost a quarter of all cases of severe pneumonia. In more than half of the cases, they are caused by different types of pathogens entering the lungs at the same time.
  3. Bronchial asthma. As a result of severe inflammation caused by the penetration of reflux contents from the stomach into the lungs, a large number of mediators are synthesized, including those that provoke the development of allergic reactions in the lung tissue.
  4. Laryngitis. Reflux esophagitis may be accompanied by manifestations of laryngitis with its dry, debilitating, non-productive cough.
  5. Chronical bronchitis. Cough is caused both by the presence of irritating gastric contents in the trachea, as well as by a reflex spasm of the bronchial system.
  6. Pulmonary fibrosis. A long-lasting inflammatory process leads to the development of connective tissue in the lungs and its replacement of the affected lung tissue.
  7. Sleep apnea.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Paroxysmal sleep apnea

Most often, gastroesophageal reflux is the cause of esophagitis and pulmonary pathologies in children. This is explained by the imperfection of the protective antireflux mechanism and developmental defects.

The mechanism of development of pulmonary pathologies

The formation of diseases of the respiratory system, accompanied by cough during reflux esophagitis, is due to the following factors:

  • The penetration of absolutely any foreign particles causes a defensive reaction in the form of coughing. Unfortunately, its effect is not always protective. Taking deep breaths when coughing promotes even deeper penetration of the aspirated contents.
  • In response to the penetration of a foreign substance into the respiratory tract, the bronchi react with protective mechanical obstruction (increased tone of the bronchial tree with narrowing of its lumen and closure of the distal bronchioles). The purpose of this mechanism is to protect the lungs from pathogenic substances. However, this same obstruction also retains in the lungs substances that have already penetrated into them. This contributes to the disruption of the natural cleansing of the lungs.
  • The acidic contents of the stomach are aggressive to the mucous membrane of the esophagus and respiratory tract. With increased acidity of the stomach, the damage to the delicate bronchial mucosa is much greater than to the esophagus. The protective ciliated epithelium of the inner wall of the bronchi, which cleanses the lungs, is damaged. In addition, areas with damaged mucosa become more susceptible to any influence, to which they react with a reflex cough, spasm and obstruction of the bronchial tree.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Paroxysmal cough is one of the extraesophageal symptoms of GERD

  • The penetration of foreign irritating substances causes increased production of bronchial secretions, the purpose of which is to dilute the chemically aggressive substance and remove it from the body. However, in conditions of obstruction, bronchospasm, this mechanism contributes not only to protection, but also to retention of mucus in the bronchi. The presence of mucus in the bronchi causes an increase in the cough reflex in a healthy body.
  • Aggressive contents cause an inflammatory reaction with the release of biologically active substances. And further damage to the lungs is already associated with exposure to these substances, and not to gastric contents.
  • Compression of the lungs from the outside. Esophageal reflux is often caused by a hiatal hernia. Through it, the stomach slips all or partially into the chest cavity, squeezing the lungs. This compression causes coughing even without aspiration.
  • Compression of the trachea by the esophagus. With neoplasms or inflammation in the esophagus, swelling occurs. This causes it to press on the adjacent trachea. This provokes a cough.
  • Stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve endings located in the distal esophagus by stomach acid leads to the development of bronchoconstriction with inflammation.

Backlash

But it also happens that pulmonary manifestations cause gastroesophageal reflux. And then cough occurs as a manifestation of pulmonary pathology. It has been proven that patients with bronchial asthma experience an increase in gastric reflex episodes during attacks, which lead to reflux esophagitis.

Symptoms of reflux esophagitis

Reflux or peptic esophagitis manifests itself with the following symptoms:

  • heartburn;
  • belching;
  • pain behind the sternum or in the upper abdomen;

All manifestations occur after eating. They are provoked by the horizontal position of the body after eating, bending the body forward, and physical activity.

Features of cough with reflux esophagitis

If the cough is not a symptom of aspiration pneumonia, bronchitis, or asthma, then it is usually dry, unproductive, and of varying intensity.

If it is a manifestation of pulmonary diseases caused by esophageal reflux, then its characteristics depend on them. With pneumonia, which develops along with reflux esophagitis, it is moist, productive, and not always associated with food intake.

A cough may occur half an hour to an hour after.

The regular need to cough well in the morning may indicate microaspirations, which also lead to reflux esophagitis.

Coughing with reflux esophagitis is promoted by the same factors that provoke the formation of esophagitis itself: bending the body and horizontal position of the patient after eating, smoking, overeating.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Cough with GERD is dry

The cough may come along with heartburn and chest pain. Pain when coughing can be in the larynx, or like a sore throat.

Diagnostics

To make a diagnosis, collecting information about complaints and the course of the disease is of great importance. It is important to determine the connection between complaints and food intake, changes in body position, the time of their appearance, and how the patient manages to reduce them or stop them completely. Primary pathologies that could lead to reflux must be diagnosed.

Laboratory tests help determine the presence of inflammation in the body and pathological changes in the organs of the digestive system. And suspect their pathologies, which could contribute to the formation of reflux.

The most informative study for diagnosing reflex esophagitis, the area of ​​its prevalence and the likelihood of penetration of gastric contents into the trachea is esophagogastroscopy.

It allows the doctor to directly see changes in the esophagus using a camera, to see whether the esophageal mucosa is changed closer to the entrance to the trachea, and to assess the degree of damage to the mucosa.
Daily pH-metry in the esophagus, contrast esophagography, and esophageal manometry are also performed.

Treatment

Treatment is strictly individual.
It depends on the primary pathology of the digestive system, provoking reflux from the stomach, on the presence of lung damage and its degree. The main directions are:

  • Diet. The level of its severity depends on the presence of aspiration and the severity of pulmonary pathology.

Esophageal cough: what does tickling indicate and what to do

Dietary recommendations apply to non-drug treatments for GERD

  • Optimizing your diet. Refusal to eat 3 hours before bedtime. Eating in small portions 5-6 times a day.
  • Treatment of primary digestive pathologies.
  • Reducing and optimizing the acidity level of gastric contents.
  • Stimulates peristalsis for faster gastric emptying.
  • Treatment of pulmonary pathology, if it has developed.
  • Relief of inflammation.

Cough and reflux esophagitis are sides of the same coin. They have one reason: reflux of aggressive gastric contents. And it is effective therapy for reflux disease that is the main requirement for the treatment of reflux esophagitis and cough.

Source: https://opischevode.ru/vospalenie/kashel-pri-reflyuks-ezofagite.html

Soreness in the esophagus

A very painful and uncomfortable symptom of a single or systemic disorder is a burning sensation in the throat and esophagus. The sensation is localized in the chest, larynx or upper abdomen.

Table of contents:

This condition is called heartburn. A symptom is a common signal of common ailments known in gastroenterology. The most likely cause of the sensation is considered to be esophagitis (inflammation in the esophageal mucosa).

What is it characterized by?

The first disorders manifest themselves in a mild degree, so a person often does not attach importance to them. As the main provoking pathology progresses, the symptom intensifies, problems and additional inconveniences are created.

Alkaline water, soda solution, and antacids help relieve burning in the esophageal tube at this stage. If the sensation is intense and accompanied by pain, a person has to take painkillers.

However, independent treatment is fraught with negative consequences and complications of possible pathology.

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Frequent accompanying symptoms, which together signal the presence of a specific health problem, are:

  • belching with burning in the esophageal tube (localized or widespread);
  • burning sensation with nausea, leading to vomiting;
  • retrosternal pain or sensations localized in the heart, between the shoulder blades, radiating to the collarbone, back or cervical region;
  • increased regurgitation after or before meals;
  • sour aftertaste in the mouth;
  • weakness, malaise;
  • pungent odor from the mouth;
  • dense coating on the tongue, predominantly gray-white in color;
  • increased salivation;
  • fever (rare).

Esophagus and burning: causes

A common cause of burning sensation in the esophagus is a jump in the acidity of gastric juice. But in old age, a burning sensation can occur against the background of a drop in acid levels in the digestive system due to the development of atrophic gastritis.

Inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa or an ulcer is always accompanied by a burning sensation in the esophagus with simultaneous, intense belching and a sour aftertaste. The sensation may appear immediately after eating (gastritis) or after some time on an empty stomach (ulcer). Often, burning sensation in the esophagus with retrosternal localization is recorded in heart disease - angina pectoris.

This symptom usually goes away after taking Validol. Otherwise, problems with the gastrointestinal tract should be suspected.

There are 3 degrees of severity of burning in the esophagus:

  • mild, when the sensation occurs rarely, once, not for long;
  • moderate severity, when the symptom appears as a single exacerbation;
  • severe when the burning sensation is constant and prolonged.

Often the last stage is complicated by bleeding, swallowing and respiratory dysfunction, and bad breath. Such manifestations signal the development of cancer in the gastrointestinal tract or esophagus, severe inflammation. Frequent causes of mild burning are disturbances in diet and routine. During pregnancy, burning sensations appear due to changes in hormonal levels.

A burning sensation in the area of ​​the esophagus can be diffuse or localized in the throat, behind the sternum, in the lumen of the stomach.

Esophageal burning can be caused by fungi, problems with the thyroid or respiratory tract.

Feelings in the throat

Associated symptoms when there is a burning sensation in the larynx are soreness, dry cough, and attacks of suffocation. The reasons for this clinical picture are:

  1. Diseases of the ENT organs, in particular the respiratory tract.
  2. Fungal, viral lesions of the tonsils, palate, or sore throat.
  3. Thyroid problems. Additionally, irritability, overexcitability, and fatigue will appear.

Feeling in the stomach

A burning sensation in the esophagus with a return to the epigastrium develops against the background of serious damage to the gastrointestinal tract with a violation of the integrity of the mucous membranes, more often with a disease that occurs in a chronic form. But the root cause may lie in a violation of nutrition and routine. In the acute stage, the burning sensation can be accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and it is very painful in the epigastrium. Risk factors are:

  • overeating;
  • fat abuse;
  • pregnancy;
  • bad ecology;
  • stress, lack of sleep;
  • rehabilitation after surgery.

Pathological provocateurs include:

  • reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus;
  • ulceration or gastritis of the main digestive organ;
  • damage to the gastrointestinal tract by E. coli or other pathogen;
  • oncology;
  • pathology of the duodenum (blockage) or pancreas (pancreatitis);
  • a jump or drop in acidity;
  • diaphragmatic hernia, problems with the sphincter muscle.

Behind the sternum

A burning sensation in the esophagus behind the sternum mainly signals reflux esophagitis. Additional signs include a bitter or sour taste in the mouth and excessive salivation. Among diseases of other organs and systems, the following provocateurs should be highlighted:

  1. Angina pectoris, cardiac infarction, pulmonary embolism. Distinctive characteristics - central localization with impact in the back, abdomen, lower back; burning sensation, swelling in the chest; nagging pain, causing a feeling of fear and horror.
  2. Thyroid pathologies.
  3. Neuralgia with intercostal localization - osteochondrosis. Congenital anomalies of the structure of the vertebral sections. A distinctive feature is the ineffectiveness of the use of “Nitroglycerin”
  4. Diaphragm hernia.

Pain and constant heartburn

If an intense painful syndrome occurs along with burning discomfort in the esophagus, acute erosive gastritis should be suspected, with possible aggravation due to the addition of a secondary bacterial infection. Gastroscopy reveals large-scale burns and foci of inflammation of varying severity. The mucous membranes of the esophagus and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract are hyperemic, edematous, erosive or ulcerated.

Features of the condition

For each category of patients, a pathologically strong burning sensation in the esophageal tube occurs differently. For example, adults experience substernal, burning pain with a sensation of a lump in the throat due to pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract.

Other ailments manifest themselves in the form of cough, hoarseness, toothache, and a burning sensation in the throat. When gastric contents reflux into the esophagus, the sensation intensifies, which characterizes a violation of the motor function of the gastrointestinal tract, against the background of which food does not enter the duodenum.

A characteristic symptom is a feeling of fullness and distension.

In children, a burning sensation in the esophagus may be accompanied by regurgitation due to adaptation to the diet.

Features in children

Before the burning sensation, the child constantly regurgitates what he has just eaten or air. When taking a vertical position, the symptoms may go away, which indicates that the process is physiological.

The baby’s digestive system is still getting better, so such manifestations are part of the norm. At an older age, the symptom complex manifests itself in the form of regular sour belching and anxiety due to burning.

It burns more when bending forward, during sleep. A common cause is malnutrition.

In pregnant women

The burning sensation during pregnancy in the absence of other pathologies is explained by hormonal changes. During this period, the secretion of progesterone increases, which is responsible for muscle relaxation, which is necessary to ensure the normal position and growth of the baby in the womb.

As a result, the tone of the sphincter, a special muscle that ensures the delimitation of the gastrointestinal tract and the promotion or retention of food in each department, is weakened. When muscle relaxation occurs, food from the gastric lumen spills into the esophagus, which causes a burning sensation.

This feeling is aggravated by fasting, overeating spicy, fatty, and harmful foods.

Treatment for heartburn

Severe burning in the esophagus is treated symptomatically using the following methods:

  1. Diet. For gastritis, tables No. 1, 1a, 1b are prescribed; for inflammation of the gallbladder - No. 5; for ulcers, erosion, acidity surge, after surgery - No. 1a; when the acid level drops - No. 2.
  2. Medicines - antacids, painkillers, astringents and enveloping drugs.
  3. Drinking alkaline mineralized waters.
  4. Exercise therapy and physiotherapy.
  5. Sanatorium-resort restoration.

In order to choose the right treatment, it is important to undergo a full examination to identify provocateurs.

Medicines

Medication groups include Maalox, Rennie, Amalgel, Alfogel, Phosphalugel, Vikalin, De-Nol, Vikair, Tribimol, Venter. They are classified into the following categories of heartburn medications:

  1. acid binders;
  2. bismuth preparations;
  3. proton pump inhibitors;
  4. acid regulators;
  5. histamine blockers.

Folk remedies

When it bakes in the esophagus, effective home treatment methods (preliminarily agreed with the doctor) are:

  1. A solution of a pinch of soda in a glass of warm water is drunk in small ingestions.
  2. Calamus root is thoroughly chewed and swallowed.
  3. Potato juice - for high acidity. Do and drink on an empty stomach 30 minutes before meals.
  4. Activated carbon (coffee spoon in 50 ml of water).

Nutrition adjustments

A healthy diet is fundamental in treating esophageal burning sensations and taking medications. The diet is characterized by the principles of a healthy diet with the exclusion of foods that irritate the gastrointestinal tract.

We are talking about products such as soda, coffee, strong tea; sour, spicy, salty, sweet, fried; cold dishes. Food is consumed in pureed, warm form in small portions up to 6 times a day.

ATTENTION! The information on the site is provided for informational purposes only! No website can solve your problem in absentia. We recommend that you consult your doctor for further advice and treatment.

Source: http://pishchevarenie.ru/pischevod/zabolevaniya/zhzhenie-v-pishhevode.html

Sore and burning throat: description, causes. How to deal with the disease?

Description of the disease

What sensations do you have?

A sore throat is a very unpleasant sensation and is often an indicator of inflammation in the throat. Most often, an inflammatory process in the throat occurs after diseases such as ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) and pharyngitis. It is also worth noting that such a rare disease as pharyngeal nervosa is the result of a sore throat.

Read about traditional methods of treating a sore throat in this article! http://sore-throat.rf/folk-treatment-of-sore-throat/

Pharyngeal nerves are a pathological condition that is associated with changes in innervation or dysfunction in the central nervous system.

Often, various types of allergic reactions become provocateurs for a sore throat. For example, if a person is susceptible to high sensitivity to pollen or dust (hay fever). Then the unpleasant sensations can be treated, but only with the elimination of direct exposure directly to the sources of the allergy.

Source: http://gkhstroyservis.ru/pershenie-v-pishhevode/

Constant sore throat and cough without signs of ARVI, what could be the reason?

Discomfort in the throat, pulling sensations, soreness and dry cough - all these are symptoms of various diseases.

Long-term smoking cessation, as in the case of your husband, is unlikely to lead to long-term negative consequences in relation to a painful cough.

Timely diagnosis will allow you to accurately determine the root cause of the pathology and prescribe adequate therapy. The tickling itself is not painful, but it is important to pay attention to other symptoms:

  • burning or tingling;
  • the nature of coughing attacks (prolonged or short-term);
  • hoarseness of voice;
  • signs of inflammation (redness, plaque on the larynx and tongue);
  • the appearance of bad breath;
  • episodic increase in body temperature;
  • general malaise.

The typical cause is various inflammatory diseases of the lower or upper respiratory sections. If there is an infectious nature of the disease, then they usually talk about the development of obstructive bronchitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis (sore throat), tracheitis or pharyngitis . In pulmonology, similar symptoms characterize the course of pneumonia or tuberculosis infection.

An atypical cause of a dry cough with a sore throat is pharyngeal neuralgia , a feature of which is a functional disorder of the swallowing apparatus.

The provoking factor is considered to be damage to the central nervous system as a whole or a localized dysfunction of nerve receptors in the structures of the larynx.

Against the background of pharyngeal neuralgia, other symptoms gradually develop:

  • decreased sensitivity;
  • loss of taste;
  • feeling of a lump in the throat;
  • the appearance of pain radiating to the ears and sublingual region.

Why does my throat feel sore and I want to cough?

Any irritation of the mucous membrane provokes a cough reflex. Cough is a protective function of the body in response to pathogenic irritants and foreign bodies. Various pathogenic or non-pathogenic agents can act as irritating particles.

Indirect causes of the development of pharyngeal neuralgia are oncological processes, syphilis, and psychogenic disorders. The disease is irreversible if it lasts for a long time and there is no adequate treatment.

Another reason is the patient’s complicated allergy history.

Obsessive tickling and cough can be provoked by household or industrial dust, prolonged exposure to smoky rooms, plant pollen, and some food products.

Allergic reactions can result from side effects of certain medications. Thus, in the absence of all the symptoms of a cold and typical manifestations of acute respiratory viral infections, it is more likely to assume the allergic nature of the origin of the tickling cough.

Source: https://plannt.ru/postoyannoe-pershenie-v-gorle

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