Acid reflux can go all the way up to the respiratory tract irritating the nose, throat and larynx.  It can also be inhaled down the lungs.  Therefore it can trigger chronic cough.  Many, but not all, patients with this type of reflux have heartbun.  Others symptoms of reflux include:

• constant throat clearing
• coughing
• hoarseness
• increased mucus in the throat (phlegm)
• a feeling that something is stuck in the throat

I always assess patients for reflux but many chronic cough patients I see have already been treated by other doctors for this.  Despite a failure to respond to reflux medications, it still may be a factor due to:

• suboptimal treatment of reflux
• failure to adhere to dietary recommendations
• other coexisting causes of cough

It may take some time after beginning reflux  treatment for many of these symptoms to improve and eventually go away.