Experts have known since the 1970s that there is a link between asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease, known as GERD for short. In fact, past studies have shown that 50 to 90% of people with asthma have at least a touch of GERD from time to time. I know I do; how about you?

But now a new scientific study at Duke University with mice has revealed more evidence for whether asthma causes GERD or the other way around. Here are the highlights:

• Doctors injected tiny amounts of gastric fluid into the lungs of mice, mimicking humans’ aspiration of tiny droplets of gastric fluid
• The immune systems of those mice were compared to those of mice exposed to allergens, but not gastric fluid
• The mice exposed to gastric fluid had changes in their immune systems typical of asthma

From these results, scientists concluded that chronic micro-aspiration of gastric fluid can drive the immune system toward an asthmatic response. If it holds up under further study with humans, it’s an important study because GERD is considered largely a lifestyle disease, meaning it can be treated and controlled fairly easily with changes such as better diet, regular exercise and reducing obesity. It is thought that today’s lifestyles, with GERD becoming more common, may also help to explain the increases in numbers of adults with asthma.

This also means that in people who know they have GERD, by reducing gastric reflux, they can also reduce their risk for developing asthma down the line. Here are some ways to do so:

• Eat smaller meals
• Eat several hours before going to bed
• Raise the head of the bed a few inches
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Limit fatty goods, coffee, tea, caffeine and alcohol