Effect of Acid Reflux on Respiratory Physiology During Exercise in Athletes With GER-Response to Acid Suppression

This is a randomized, blinded, cross-over trial. We plan to take athletes with classical GER, cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness during exercise and subject them to complete pulmonary function testing in conjunction with exercise and pH testing. We will assess whether such athletes experience an increase in reflux duration and episodes during exercise. The athletes will be randomized (in a cross over fashion) to acid suppression (BID Nexium 40 mg) or placebo for 10-12 weeks. Both the athletes and investigators will be blinded. After 10-12 weeks, exercise testing (ramp protocol with VO2 and anaerobic threshold) with concurrent respiratory function testing will be repeated along with symptom assessment. After a brief washout period of 1-2 weeks, the athletes will then cross-over to the other study medication for 10-12 weeks. Again, at the end of the study period, symptomatic relief as well as respiratory function improvement will be assessed by repeating the initial exercise regimen. The exercise regimens during these medication regimens will not be held stable as indirectly, as a results of "feeling better or worse" from the medication/placebo, these patients may increase/ decrease their exercise routine, resulting in changes in their overall endurance, anaerobic threshold, etc (our endpoints). By keeping the regimen stable, we do not allow for the changes to occur which are large enough to detect.