COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
I was wondering why some people who have COPD also have GERD,
This is what I found and thought maybe someone else here may have wondered too.
Have a nice Breath Easy Day,
Holly
The association between GERD and COPD seems logical as there are anatomical changes that could favour the development of reflux.
These changes include: increased central drive; flattening of the diaphragm and increased intra-abdominal and negative intrathoracic pressure.
These, in combination with the use of medication, e.g. theophylline and 2-agonists which may decrease the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, could facilitate reflux of gastric content 16, 17.
http://www.erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/full/23/6/841#R16
This is what I found and thought maybe someone else here may have wondered too.
Have a nice Breath Easy Day,
Holly
The association between GERD and COPD seems logical as there are anatomical changes that could favour the development of reflux.
These changes include: increased central drive; flattening of the diaphragm and increased intra-abdominal and negative intrathoracic pressure.
These, in combination with the use of medication, e.g. theophylline and 2-agonists which may decrease the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, could facilitate reflux of gastric content 16, 17.
http://www.erj.ersjournals.com/cgi/content/full/23/6/841#R16
~" In patients with asthma, GERD can worsen respiratory symptoms, which respond to the specific treatment for GERD. In addition to asthma, previous studies have reported a high prevalence of GERD in other respiratory disorders, including chronic cough, upper respiratory complaints , obstructive sleep apnea , and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis"~
Hugs, Sue
Interesting .. my grandson has had severe reflux since birth despite being on meds. Recently they did a swallow study and found he was aspirating with every swallow he took. Now he cannot have ANY liquid that is not thickened to the consistency of nectar.
So that makes me wonder., Studies have show in COPD that we swallow differently when eating due to the diaphragm changes and breathing issues. My thought is for those with GERD and frequent COPD flairs, has anyone ever had a swallow study done?
It would possibly make sense that maybe the frequent flairs are also a partial result of aspiration and that thickening liquids might reduce them....
Anyone have a cool Dr. who might look into this?
On a different note- I have found I no longer feel satisfied when I drink liquids directly from a cup. But if I use a straw I can get more fluids and feel satisfied. Wonder if the diaphragm issue also comes into play here.
Dang- I'd love to be a medical researcher.
On the bottled water...I use it on my bedside table at night and during the day when I am away from home. I have found that the bottles that have the lift that you pop up requires drinking pretty much like using a straw.
I too would love to at least have a researcher that would take our ideas and run with them. Nothing like first had experiences.
I am thinking of "firing" my cool pulmonologist so can't help you out there.
When reading the replies, I remembered an article I read regarding COPD and swallowing. I posted an excerpt of it here....Maybe it explains why drinking through a straw is more comfortable and less choking occurs.
"In healthy subjects, the usual pattern is to time swallows to occur during early to mid exhalation. Healthy individuals also nearly exclusively follow each swallow with exhalation. This pattern assures that there is sufficient air pressure below the vocal folds during a swallow and prevents inhalation of food residue after swallowing," said Dr. Gross. "In contrast, in COPD patients, we saw that several aspects of their swallowing and breathing timing were disrupted such that swallows were occurring during inhalation or where followed by inhalation. COPD patients also swallowed more often at the end of exhalation at lower lung volumes."
The complicated physiology of the upper respiratory tract may be thrown out of balance by the respiratory burden imposed by COPD, explained Dr. Gross. "Because breathing and eating share the structures of the upper airway, precise coordination is needed to prevent food material from entering the airway while eating. In patients with COPD, the competition for the upper airway may cause the respiratory drive to override swallowing function and disrupt the normal patterning. The lungs of COPD patients have less elasticity than those of healthy individuals and this may also play a role swallowing safety."
Complete article found here:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090326084750.htm
I remember somone asking a couple of weeks ago about losing their voice or something related to that.
I know that there are others that have mentioned the diminishing quality of their voices. I know that a speech therapist told me that it was the coordination of the breathing and the vocal cords that was out of sync and that the air was not moving the same as those without emphysema.
With what has been discussed, it is starting to complete the circle for me.
Thanks so very much.
Anna
Great tie in Anna...
I love how everyone pitches in with articles, etc. Makes you kind of wish the medical community would also get it together and being to complete the circle instead of only looking a a small piece here and there.
Great tie in Anna...
I love how everyone pitches in with articles, etc. Makes you kind of wish the medical community would also get it together and being to complete the circle instead of only looking a a small piece here and there.
Jean