January is ending, and you’ve probably already created your New Year’s Resolutions, but it’s not too late to add one or two that can help you manage your chronic cough and acid reflux (officially called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD). The symptoms of chronic cough and GERD can be incredibly uncomfortable and annoying. We want to help, so here are some Resolution suggestions to mitigate those symptoms.
How Chronic Cough and GERD Are Related
Before jumping into management strategies, let’s discuss the relationship between GERD and chronic cough. GERD occurs when stomach contents and stomach acid flow back up into the esophagus and as far as the throat. Stomach acid can irritate and corrode the lining of the esophagus and throat. This irritation very often leads to a chronic cough.
Resolution #1: Eat Foods that Help with GERD
As it happens, many popular New Year’s Resolutions overlap with GERD and chronic cough management strategies, as is the case with this one. A healthy diet can prevent acid reflux and avoid discomfort. Some foods to work into your diet include:
- High-fiber foods, such as oatmeal, whole-grain bread, broccoli, carrots, pears, apples, beans, lentils and almonds. These help you feel full and stay full. They also aid with digestion.
- Bananas. Not only are bananas high in fiber, which helps with the same benefits discussed above, but they’re also low-acid, so they neutralize stomach acid and coat the lining of the esophagus, easing irritation.
- Leafy greens. Salad greens are also low-acid, easy on the gut and don’t cause gas, which can increase pressure inside the stomach.
- Yogurt. Yogurt and other dairy products soothe heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms. Better yet, yogurt—especially Greek yogurt—is rich with probiotics, which aid with digestion and gut health.
Resolution #2: Avoid Foods That Irritate GERD
On the flip side to Resolution #1, there are also foods that can make GERD symptoms worse. Some of these include:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Carbonated drinks
- Chocolate
- Fried foods
- Onions and garlic
Resolution #3: Quit Smoking
This is another common New Year’s Resolution that works for GERD and chronic cough. Smoke and other air pollutants can irritate the throat, leading to a chronic cough, and smoking can impair your body’s ability to keep stomach acid down.
Resolution #4: Seek Help
Don’t let GERD or chronic cough get you down in 2026. Our specialists at Palmetto ENT & Allergy can help you manage GERD and chronic cough with a variety of recommendations, ranging from over-the-counter medications to speech therapy to surgery in some cases. Call us today to learn more.