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People
who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a
chronic condition in which stomach acid backs up into the
esophagus, are also more likely to suffer nasal congestion
and other respiratory problems, according to a new study.
Researchers
from the University of South Florida Medical School
reported in the American
Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine on a study
which found that the patients with chronic heartburn
due to acid reflux also
suffered more from nasal congestion, coughs and hoarseness.
The study
looked at 74 patients with chronic heartburn (GERD was confirmed
in 52 of them) and at 74 adults with no previous or current
symptoms of GERD.
The researchers
reported that 75 percent of the patients with GERD reported
throat-related symptoms such as hoarseness and coughs on at
least five days each month, compared to only 9 percent of
the adults with no GERD symptoms.
They reported
that 69 percent of the patients with GERD reported nasal symptoms
for at least five days a month compared to only 14 percent
of the volunteers with no GERD symptoms.
The report
also indicated that the more acid reflux episodes GERD patients
had each day, the more severe their respiratory problems.
"Upper
respiratory symptoms are frequent among subjects with GERD,"
the researchers concluded. The report indicated it was not
entirely clear, however, why GERD may create more hoarseness
or nasal congestion.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of July 29, 2001
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