Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is the presence of systemic atherosclerosis in arteries distal to the arch of the aorta. As a result of the atherosclerotic process, patients with PVD develop narrowing of these arteries.
Whether your shortness of breath is related strictly to GERD or is due to GERD-related asthma, there are small steps you can take to prevent and treat it. Often, the most effective steps to prevent GERD involve making some lifestyle changes.
The mucus turns dry and hard, partly due to the labored breathing common in asthma attacks. It thickens as cells such as eosinophils, ciliated epithelial cells, polys, and lymphocytes die off and clog the airway.