Sunday, May 27, 2012

Tuesday, July 01, 2008 A Martin asks

Q: Can acid reflux effect your sinuses and cause headaches

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Answers (6)
9/12/08 9:28am

Thanks for your question. Sinus effects and headaches are not on this list of acid reflux symptoms. However, this study from the Medical College of Wisconsin (published in 2000) suggests such a link between the two. You may find this post and response between a GERD patient and an expert on the matter to be helpful.

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9/18/08 2:08pm

Don't know.

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9/18/08 2:23pm

possibly

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9/18/08 4:11pm

Much research has shown that acid reflux can effect sinuses and cause headaches. The usual recommendations are to identify and eliminate your trigger foods, wait a couple of hours after eating before lying down, and sleep elevated on a pillow that supports you on an even plane through the entire torso and elevates you 6-8".  It is important that you don't just prop your head on pillows or lie on too short a pillow.  Doing so just puts extra pressure on your stomach and makes everyting worse.  Make sure your pillow is at least 30" long - the 24" ones actually make problems worse.  In addition to helping your reflux by using gravity to keep acid down, sleeping elevated helps the sinuses drain and also helps with the headaches.

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1/26/11 8:40pm

YES!!! Absolutely. I suffer all the time.

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1/14/12 9:28am

Can acid reflux effect your sinuses and cause headaches?

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1/15/12 2:57am

Acid reflux may not be confined to the lower esophageal sphincter resulting in GERD. Refluxate may also pass the upper esophageal sphincter (known as LaryngoPharyngeal Reflux). Acid LPR can attack the voice box and enter the airway passing into the lungs (causing the 'reflux cough') and into the nose where it can affect sinus and tear ducts.

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1/16/12 12:20am

Thanks for your response, robichris!  Much apreciated.  Was asked due to my mom wondering about this.

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By A Martin— Last Modified: 01/16/12, First Published: 07/01/08