Reflux causing shortness of breath??

Hi there, I have extreme shortness of breath at times (like when I try to do ANY sort of exercise or even when I walk up a tiny bit of an incline or try to sing at times)...I had an ultrasound done for my heart (echocardiogram) and I am waiting for the results but since I haven't been contacted I think that the results show that my heart is fine. I also did one of those lung tests where you try to blow out the flames. It showed that my lungs are fine. I DO have very severe reflux. Could the REFLUX be the cause of the shortness of breath?? I don't have any wheezing...Anyone else have trouble breathing due to reflux??

If reflux were the cause of your shortness of breath, you would likely already be aware of it. Breathing in stomach contents causes intense coughing and burning.

Call about the echocardiogram. See your doctor. The echocardiogram reports are important even if they are normal. You may have more tests to go. This sounds very important.

I am unaware of "lung tests where you blow out the flames." You may need to have a spirometry test on your lungs to measure the dynamics of air flow through your bronchial tubes. Again, see your doctor before it gets still worse. Don't worry about exercize until your doctor recommends it. Find out if you are fit enough for exercize first. This could be dangerous in your condition.

Acid reflux does cause a shortness of breathe. I have acid reflux disease and I dont get the burning and pain until after I get short of breathe. That's how I know I have an attack coming on. I hope your results come back ok for your heart and talk to your doctor. They will give you the best answers.

NO. reflux would cause you considerable pain and Discomfort.
Like your throat and chest in on fire.
ACID BURNS>

Perhaps your lung capacity is small and exercise would help. Slowly develop a walking routine/ and speed it up (each month) until you can get your heart warmed up and lungs a good workout every other day.

I have terrible reflux and just had surgery over the summer for it, but it did cause me to have a really shortness of breath, or i wouldn't be able to catch my breath and the problem with the exercising bit is that you may be UN-fit or over weight. Good Luck

Yeah, they tried to tell me mine was acid reflux because I passed the lung test, but x-rays showed different, I had one lung 3/4 full and one1/2 full of fluid, and my blood/ox sat was still 93. Guess what, they were wrong, I had congestive heart failure.

Yes, you should consider going to the Dr. you may even have a bleeding ulcer which will cause not only shortness of breath but total weakness.

If your throat is damaged by acid it MAY cause this problem cause it would hurt to breathe did they look at throat?

Acid reflux can cause asthma and pneumonia, due in part to the erosion of the esophagus. Shortness of breath is commonly a characteristic of both conditions (I know -- I had each onset prior to diagnosis of the acid reflex).

Your doctor should send you to a gastroenterologist who will check for the presence of esophageal erosion. Similarly, he/she may send you to a pulmonologist to help diagnose if there is a lung issue. Correcting the acid reflux will make symptoms go away -- or at least, it did for me.

:)

I am severe reflux. The food will not go down (often) and even "floats" up toward my nasal cavity. When I am sleeping and sometimes even when awake, it goes into my lungs. Then I have to cough (and pound my chest) to get it up in the morning before I can talk. They told me I breath fine, heart is fine. but that I should eat only small, frequent meals, chew my food really well, take previcid to decrease acid so my eosophugus will heal, never eat 3 hours before sleep and prop up my bed or mattress (he suggested a "wedge of foam rubber") I use several pillow under mattress all the way across the head of bed. I am thin and walk. Wouldn't you and I be short of breath with that food dribbling into our lungs. I have not heard of blowing out the candle as being scientific. My lung doctor uses a special machine to test lung capacity. I hope some of this helps.

There would have to be one of two things, to create too little oxygenation of the body..There is also 02, CO2 exchange factor which needs to be ruled out. Reflux condition is a gastro/esophageal factor and not one connected to breathing.. The mention of it in another post would suggest that his reflux is a result rather than a causation. He needs another opinion for his reflux condition. Then obtain appropriate treatment.

Acid reflux can cause some shortness of breath but it sounds like you need to be checked for congestive heart failure. Are you able to lie flat on your back without problems breathing? for example, do you have to use extra pillows to prop yourself up at night so that you can sleep? These are clues that it may be CHF, you should look into it, it can be treated.