Hernia and acid reflux brings on bronchitis

I have hydial hernia and acid reflux and I believe that after a series of problems keeping certain foods down it irritates my throat and I get an attack of bronchitis so bad that I end up in hospital and it takes over a month to get over the chronic bronchitis. I need to find out how to control the problem.

[TamBell]

Hi Rampart, i, also have a hiatus hernia and acid reflux. My Respiratory Consultant thinks it's possible that inhalation of this acid and other stomach contents could have initially caused my bronchiectasis. My throat gets sore, my voice gets hoarse because my vocal chords are also damaged by acid reflux, so if stomach acid is reaching up to this level it could certainly be inhaled into the lungs, and perhaps cause bronchitis.

To avoid having to deal with too much reflux i try to stick to small meals, no citrus fruits, or spicy or fatty foods, little alcohol, no fizzy drinks, no caffeine, and no chocolate. I find it's best to avoid bending after a meal, and do not lie down within two hours of eating.

The change that has made the biggest difference for me, in stopping the reflux travelling too far up my gullet, is raising the head of my bed so that i am sleeping on a slope. That way gravity does the job of keeping any reflux at bottom of the gullet. It definitely works for me.

i hope some of this can help you. The oesophagus is not designed to cope with stomach acid, so anything that you can do to reduce the reflux will help.

take care

Tam (Gill)

[Hidden in reply to TamBell]

Thank you TamBell. You have given me a lot of good advice. I do sleep with my head raised. You are the first person that confirms my belief that the acid reflux is the the cause,of the attack. I have altered my diet and eat smaller meals and still feel bloated many times after I eat. In addition to nexium and tums I have been drinking more water. Thanks for your help.