Why Acid Reflux Can Lead to Chronic Cough (And How to Treat It)

Understanding the Link & How Tampa Bay Reflux Center Can Help

A lingering, unexplained cough can be frustrating—especially when it persists despite medications or allergy treatments. For many people, the culprit isn’t in their lungs—it’s in their stomach. Acid reflux, or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), is a commonly overlooked cause of chronic cough, and it affects millions of Americans each year.

At the Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we specialize in diagnosing and treating reflux-related conditions—offering advanced testing, personalized care, and surgical options that provide long-term relief.

The Connection Between Acid Reflux and Chronic Cough

How does acid reflux trigger a cough? The stomach’s acidic contents can travel back up the esophagus, irritating the throat and airways. This can cause a reflexive cough, even without typical heartburn symptoms.

There are two main mechanisms at play:

  1. Reflux theory: Acid or non-acid contents physically irritate the throat and larynx.

  2. Reflex theory: Acid stimulates nerves in the esophagus, triggering a cough reflex via the vagus nerve.

Studies show GERD can be responsible for up to 41% of chronic cough cases (Wu et al., 2022).

Signs You May Have Reflux-Related Cough

Unlike a cold or flu, reflux-induced cough tends to:

  • Last longer than 8 weeks

  • Worsen when lying down or after eating

  • Occur without phlegm or wheezing

  • Accompany symptoms like throat clearing, hoarseness, or a sour taste

Importantly, heartburn isn’t always present, which makes diagnosis tricky.

How Is It Diagnosed?

At Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we use advanced diagnostics to pinpoint GERD as a cough source:

  • 24-hour pH monitoring to track acid exposure

  • Multichannel impedance testing to detect non-acid reflux

  • Salivary pepsin tests as non-invasive markers

These tools help us confirm GERD—even when symptoms are silent (Zhang et al., 2023).

Treatment Options That Work

1. Lifestyle Changes

  • Avoid trigger foods: spicy, fried, acidic

  • Elevate the head of your bed

  • Eat smaller meals, and avoid eating 2–3 hours before bed

2. Medications

  • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the first-line treatment and may improve symptoms in up to 69% of patients (Todea & Coman, 2013)

  • Prokinetics or neuromodulators may help in stubborn cases

3. Anti-Reflux Surgery

  • For those who don’t respond to medication, minimally invasive procedures like LINX or fundoplication can offer long-term relief. Surgery has shown excellent outcomes in resistant cases, especially when non-acid reflux is involved (Irwin et al., 2002).

Why Choose Tampa Bay Reflux Center?

At Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we don’t just treat symptoms—we identify the root cause. Here’s why patients across the region trust us:

Comprehensive reflux testing
Board-certified specialists in reflux care
Surgical options for long-term solutions
Customized care plans based on your reflux type

If you’re suffering from a chronic cough that just won’t go away, you don’t have to live with it. We’re here to help.

Chronic cough may be more than just a throat irritation—it could be a sign of acid reflux or GERD. With the right testing and expert care, Tampa Bay Reflux Center can help you find lasting relief and take a breath of fresh air—literally.

Works Cited

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