Nexium (also known as esomeprazole) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used in the treatment of a number of digestive disorders including Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and others. Nexium and the other PPIs (including Prilosec, Aciphex, Prevacid and Protonix) work by shutting off acid production in the stomach.
Although it is not obvious, there is a relationship between asthma and GERD. People with asthma have a high likelihood of also having GERD. People with the most severe forms of asthma are even more likely to have GERD than those with milder forms of the disease. So there seems to be a link. The question is whether GERD causes asthma. We know that GERD can worsen asthma symptoms. That is because stomach acid can be aspirated into the lungs, especially during sleep. That acid is irritating and can precipitate asthma symptoms. Treating GERD has been shown to reduce the frequency of asthma attacks.
GERD can also cause symptoms of what appears to be asthma. This is especially true if the asthma appears in adulthood, seems to be worse after meals, after exercise, at night or after lying down.
While asthma is a disease of the lung airways, emphysema is a progressive disease of the lung itself. Emphysema is one of the forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (known as COPD). To my knowledge there is no link between emphysema and GERD. Although it is sometimes difficult to distinguish asthma from emphysema on the basis of symptoms alone, pulmonary function tests along with a chest X-ray can help with the diagnosis.
