Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease And Its Connection To Chronic Cough

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common cause of chronic cough, particularly when the cough appears without mucus and occurs mostly at night. This type of cough is triggered by stomach or duodenal contents flowing back into the esophagus, which irritates the throat and larynx. Due to its relation with body position, it often happens when lying flat, causing sudden bouts of irritation and dry coughing.

How can you tell if a cough is caused by GERD or a respiratory condition? The key lies in identifying associated symptoms. Classic signs of GERD include heartburn and acid regurgitation. If these are absent and the only symptom is a persistent cough, a definitive diagnosis should be made carefully by a healthcare provider.

If a patient experiences heartburn, acid regurgitation, and also suffers from nighttime, irritating, or dry cough, then GERD should be considered as the likely cause of the cough. In such cases, diagnostic therapy may be used to confirm the source. Doctors might prescribe prokinetic agents or acid-suppressive medications, and if the cough improves significantly with this treatment, it supports the diagnosis of GERD-related cough.

However, if the gastrointestinal symptoms improve but the cough remains unchanged, it could suggest that the cough has a different underlying cause, such as asthma, postnasal drip, or another respiratory issue. Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment, especially since GERD-induced cough requires a different management approach than other types of chronic cough.