Acid
reflux and mucus: is
there a connection between both? In fact, acid reflux
occurs when stomach acids rise up to the
esophagus. The most common symptom of acid
reflux is heartburn. But some acid reflux
patients often complain about the kind of mucus
that is produced by the body. It is so sticky that
they feel as if they have to reach into the back
of their throats to pull it out. Some of this
sensation is caused by swelling of the throat
tissues together with this thick, dense, sticky,
and adherent mucus.
On
the surface, acid reflux and sinusitis may not
seem related but there is recent evidence that
suggests there may be a connection between acid
reflux and sinus problems. Some believe that the
stomach acids make their way up into the sinuses
through the throat. Others say that there
may be a neurological connection between the
sinusitis and acid reflux. The body responds by
producing extra mucus to protect itself from the
harmful hydrochloric acid. The mucus production is
stepped up in the sinuses too preventing them from
draining. This causes the sinuses to get clogged
up resulting in sinusitis.
Sinusitis
is a condition that occurs when the sinus cavities
become infected causing the bacteria and mucus to
become trapped and the sinuses to become inflamed.
The cilia usually clean out the mucus but
when the walls of the sinus cavities and the
opening become inflamed, this does not happen
resulting in
sinusitis.
Sinusitis
can be treated in many ways. Commonly, nasal
sprays are used but the particle sizes of the
nasal sprays are so large that they cannot fully
reach the sinus cavity and may only help the lower
nasal passage. Oral antibiotics may also be
prescribed. However, in the sinus cavity there are
very few blood cells, so the antibiotic cannot
really get rid of the infection entirely.
When
acid reflux is present along with the sinusitis,
it helps to first treat the acid reflux, the
mucus then clears by itself. Making lifestyle
changes, improving diet habits, avoiding foods and
medications that trigger acid reflux, eating
smaller meals more frequently, chewing food well,
regularizing sleep cycles, reducing weight,
avoiding tight clothes, not lying down immediately
after a meal, stress management through exercise,
meditation, sleeping with the head of the bed
raised by 6 to 9 inches, natural herbs, etc are
some ways which are effective in controlling
heartburn.
A
holistic method of treatment would incorporate all
these and more changes into your daily life to not
only cure acid reflux, clear the mucus but
also improve overall health. There are no side
effects and it is long term cure without using any
harmful medications.
