By Donna Lampa

About  50%-90% of people with asthma also suffer from a common form of indigestion – gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). No one had been able to unravel the mysterious link between these two conditions, but now new studies have shed some light on this relationship .

According to a recent study published by the European Journal of Clinical Investigation, the act of inhaling small amounts of stomach acid back up into the esophagus and lungs, a hallmark of GERD, slowly produces changes in the immune system that may lead to the development of asthma.
Although the rising cased of reflux  may be causing increasing cases of asthma, the good news is that by modifying one’s lifestyle one can minimize gastric reflux thus reducing the risk of developing asthma.

You can avoid the risk factors of GERD by:

* Eating smaller meals
* Eating several hours before going to bed
* Raising the head of your bed a few inches
* Maintaining a healthy weight
* Limiting fatty foods, coffee, tea, caffeine, and alcohol because they can relax the esophageal sphincter and make reflux more likely.