title: Oesophageal reflux and asthma.
abstract: Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and asthma are both common but there are causal associations between the two. Although frank microaspiration into the trachea has been documented, in most patients vagal reflex pathways from lower oesophageal receptors are the predominant cause of airway narrowing or cough. Equally, the smooth muscle relaxing drugs used for the treatment of asthma can cause reflux to occur as can hyperinflation associated with more significant asthma. Controlling the symptoms of GOR with H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors does not necessarily improve asthma control, while the place for surgery as an attempt to reduce asthma symptoms is open to debate.
authors.affiliation: Chest Research Institute, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ayres
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015984:Causality; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents