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Sports induces asthma and acid reflux?

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davegroe
davegroe

My 16 year old son has played competitive travel soccer since he was 6 years old. This last fall he played JV high school soccer and could play the whole 90 minute game. He has always had slight asthma, and would use an inhaler before each game. He then started indoor winter soccer and lasted about 5 minutes before being totally out of breath, and it takes 30 minutes just to breath right again. His allergist is stumped. My son also has indicated that he has acid reflux, and it burns his throat. This started late in the fall. We are not sure if the asthma triggers the acid reflux or the other way around. Either way, he can't last more than 5 minutes in a game, and has a hard time breathing and has acid reflux.

He was scoped a few weeks ago and there is no damage to his esophages. He tried for a few weeks an acis reducing medication (doctor prescribed) and that did not help much. At this time we are looking at him quitting soccer completly. Soccer has always been his passion, and we can't imaging him no longer playing.

Somewhere I read that some asthma meds (inhailers) can relax the airway, but at the same time relax the muscle thatkeeps your food down.

Someone also said that the acid reflux could trigger the body to close down the airway.

Any suggestions on what we can try?

Thanks,

Dave

 

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • johndiggle
    johndiggle davegroe

    Posted

    I am not sure how he isn't able to last 90 minutes as he used to be able to. You did not state any other symptom. Maybe, if he wasn't waiting 3 hours after the meal to play soccer, while moving his stomach is as well moving and the food is going everywhere and if he has acid reflux the acid will definitely hit up to his throat and cause for him to have short breathe or heartburns. If these were the symptoms then most likely it is because of acid reflux.
  • davegroe
    davegroe

    Posted

    He has tried waiting more than 3 hours and the same thing happens. The symptoms are that hejust can't get enough air into his lungs, even though he used the "rescue" inhailer prior to starting the activity. Before the full blown asthma attach starts, he feels stuff coming up from his stomach, and burning in his esophogus.
    • johndiggle
      johndiggle davegroe

      Posted

      Then this is definitely acid reflux, go check it out with a doctor, he might require endoscopy.
  • davegroe
    davegroe

    Posted

    He had the scope done about two weeks ago. No damage, nothing out of the ordinary.

     

  • manda08392
    manda08392 davegroe

    Posted

    To my knowledge, acid reflux and asthma aren't related or known to trigger each other however, other factors can trigger each. For example, feeling overheated can both trigger an asthma attack as well as aggravate acid reflux almost to the point of nausea. He could have two separate conditions. When he was scoped and the doctor prescribed acid reducing medications, what did he say about the asthma?

    My thinking is that your son may need a daily inhaler instead of the rescue inhaler only. Twice a day on advair or whatever the current medication they are liking these days may regulate his airways better for his activity but I just can't believe the doctor didn't bring that up unless he thinks it's something else.

    If the acid reflux medication isn't helping, try adding more milk, yogurt and probiotics into his diet to see if there is a reduction. My husband has these issues often and has to take Prevacid daily to avoid the symptoms. I don't have them often but when I do the only thing that works is taking pepto and adding extra dairy into my diet that day. Considering his age, I would definitly suggest that over the meds first.

  • davegroe
    davegroe

    Posted

    He has seen an allergist for the past 10 years or so and has been on advair and fluticasone for a number of years., maybe another med that I can't remember at the moment. For a few years now he has been taking the rescue inhaler about 30 minutes before a practice or game.

    He drinks milk daily.

    When this started in late Oct he saw his normal doctor who tried I think Prevacid No real effect. He then saw a ggastrointerologist doc who then scoped him. Nothing out of the oordinary He then saw his allergist again who had no further suggestions.

    It is sad to see this happening to him. He has loved soccer since he was about two years old, played club soccer starting when he was 6.

    • manda08392
      manda08392 davegroe

      Posted

      Oh, that's just terrible. It sounds like you are making no headway with the acid reflux, what have the doctors said about his change in asthma? Did they have any suggestions for getting that under control or explanation for why it's getting worse?
  • davegroe
    davegroe

    Posted

    They have no idea why it is getting worse. All that I can think is that at 16 he is growing fast and maybe parts of his body need to catch up. So far no one has any ideas other than don't do sports or other strenuous activity. He has always been very competitive and is good at any sport he does. I am looking for any ideas on what the real problem is and what we can try next.
    • manda08392
      manda08392 davegroe

      Posted

      I'm really sorry that your son is going through this and is unable to do the things he loves. The only suggestion I have is to post this discussion in the Abdominal Disorders forum. Perhaps there is a link between the two and you will hear from people with acid reflux who have problems with shortness of breath, etc.
  • pam26689
    pam26689 davegroe

    Posted

    I JUST READ HOW REFFLUX and asthma ARE related!!! Look it up
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