When your cough won’t go away and no cold or allergy explains it, you might be dealing with GERD cough, a chronic cough caused by stomach acid rising into the throat and airways. Also known as laryngopharyngeal reflux, this isn’t the classic heartburn you picture—it’s often silent, with no burning chest pain at all. Instead, you wake up choking, feel a lump in your throat, or sound hoarse by midday. It’s not allergies. It’s not asthma. It’s your stomach talking—loudly—through your voice box.
Most people think reflux means heartburn, but acid reflux, the backward flow of stomach contents into the esophagus can sneak up in other ways. The same acid that causes burning behind the breastbone can travel all the way to your throat, larynx, and even lungs. That’s where the cough starts. It’s your body’s way of saying, "Hey, something’s wrong down there." And it’s more common than you think—up to 25% of chronic coughs in adults are linked to GERD, not infections or smoke.
What makes it tricky? The symptoms don’t always match the cause. You might not feel any heartburn at all. The cough often gets worse at night, after meals, or when you lie down. Some people notice it only after eating spicy food, coffee, or chocolate. Others get it after a big meal or when they wear tight clothes. It’s not just about what you eat—it’s about how your body handles pressure. Belly fat, pregnancy, smoking, and even certain medications like calcium channel blockers can make it worse.
And here’s the catch: treating it like a regular cough with cough syrup or antihistamines won’t help. You need to stop the acid at the source. That means changing habits—eating smaller meals, avoiding food 3 hours before bed, raising the head of your bed, and cutting out triggers. Sometimes, a simple proton pump inhibitor (PPI) like omeprazole can quiet it down in days. But if you’ve been on it for weeks and still coughing, you might need a different approach. Some people need testing, like a pH probe or endoscopy, to confirm it’s really GERD and not something else.
This collection of posts doesn’t just list symptoms. It shows you the real connections—how medication nonadherence, skipping pills or taking them wrong can make reflux worse, how inactive ingredients, fillers in generic drugs might irritate your gut, and why timing your meds matters more than you think. You’ll find advice on how to spot when your cough is reflux, what to avoid, and how to talk to your doctor so you get the right treatment—not just another cough drop.
If your cough has been hanging on for more than 3 weeks and no one’s figured out why, it’s time to look below the surface. The answer might not be in your throat—it’s in your stomach.
Chronic cough lasting over 8 weeks is most often caused by GERD, asthma, or postnasal drip. Learn the step-by-step diagnostic approach backed by current guidelines to find the real cause and get relief.
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