Insight into the Link Between Persistent Cough and Hoarseness, and Potential Role of Diet
- Recorded by Constanze Löffler
- 3 Min
Persons Reports Persistent Sneezing Fit - Multiple Healthcare Professionals Overlooked This Particular Condition - Persistent Irritable Cough Stumps Multiple Physicians in Diagnosis
Meet the skeptical, late-sixties lady who's sought help from multiple doctors for over a decade, with no luck. As a gastroenterologist, I was her latest hope. I nodded, prepared to hear her story.
- Cough Variant
- Hoarseness
- Diet
Decoding the Link
Her chronic cough and hoarse voice could be linked to a condition known as cough variant asthma or chronic cough, exacerbated by acid reflux from the stomach into her esophagus and throat. This acid reflux irritates her larynx (voice box) and upper airway, causing a chronic cough and hoarseness of voice. The inflammation and irritation caused by acidic stomach contents can also impact her vocal cords, resulting in hoarseness.
Role of Diet
A carefully curated diet is crucial in controlling symptoms related to reflux and its respiratory manifestations. Foods that relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) such as fatty foods, spicy foods, caffeine, chocolate, and acidic foods can worsen reflux. This leads to increased coughing and hoarseness due to increased acid exposure. By modifying her diet to avoid such reflux-triggering foods, she can minimize acid-related laryngeal irritation, leading to improved voice quality and reduced cough variant symptoms.
COVID-19 Subvariants Impact
Recent COVID-19 subvariants, like Nimbus or JN.1, have been known to cause symptoms including hoarseness, sore throat, cough, and gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and diarrhea [1][2][5]. However, while these viral causes are distinct from GERD, they might still impact her reflux symptoms or mimic reflux-related cough and hoarseness.
The Gist
Chronic cough and hoarseness are frequently related to GERD, wherein acid reflux irritates the throat and vocal cords. Dietary management is key in controlling reflux, reducing cough variant symptoms and hoarseness. Emerging respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms from viral infections might further complicate matters, but the core connection remains acid reflux and its effect on the upper airway and voice.
Sounds like a classic gastroenterology puzzle, huh? Here's hoping I can finally ease this sixty-something's affliction.
Sources: [4][5][1][2]
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation as a part of ensuring health and wellness in various industries.
- Science suggests that chronic diseases like chronic kidney disease and respiratory conditions can be managed through proper diet, fitness and exercise, mental health management, and nutrition to improve overall health.
- Medical-conditions such as cough variant asthma and chronic cough can be exacerbated by acid reflux from the stomach into the esophagus and throat, leading to chronic cough and hoarseness of voice.
- The impact of recent COVID-19 subvariants like Nimbus or JN.1 on hoarseness, sore throat, cough, and gastrointestinal disturbances might still affect reflux symptoms or mimic reflux-related cough and hoarseness in individuals.
- Adequate dietary management is essential for controlling symptoms related to reflux and its respiratory manifestations, as avoidance of reflux-triggering foods like fatty foods, spicy foods, caffeine, chocolate, and acidic foods can help minimize acid-related laryngeal irritation, leading to improved voice quality and reduced cough variant symptoms.
