Silent Reflux (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux)
Silent reflux or laryngeal-pharyngeal reflux or Laryngopharyngeal reflux is a condition in which stomach acid comes back up in to the esophagus. It's called silent reflux because you may not even know you are experiencing reflux at all.
The symptoms of silent reflux you might experience are an irritated, sore throat, frequent clearing of the throat, bouts of coughing and difficulty swallowing. In most cases however, a person who has silent reflux will not experience heartburn as with typical acid reflux.
In severe cases, if silent reflux has gone undetected for many years, the constant irritation caused by reflux creates scar tissue which causes the esophagus to narrow (benign esophageal stricture).
If this is the case, a person may also get food stuck in the throat that cannot be coughed up. This is not considered choking as the person is still able to breathe on their own.
Aging can also cause the sphincter (which is at the top of the esophagus) to decrease in size. If this has happened, this can make it difficult to swallow food, take large sips of liquids, swallow pills, etc. causing things to get stuck (again not chocking).
It is also possible if you are taking medication for thinning bones such as: osteopina, osteoperosis, etc. and the medications are not taken as directed they could cause the esophagus to narrow as well.
Home Remedies for Silent Reflux
For adults who have been diagnosed with silent reflux, lifestyle changes can help.
Lifestyle Changes
Pay attention to the foods you eat that cause a reaction. Keep a list if you need to but avoid these foods in the future. Avoid dry foods, acidic drinks, greasy and high fat foods, and citrus type foods, soda, alcohol and caffeine.
When drinking liquids, take small sips, don’t gulp or drink anything too fast. Take smaller bites of food and chew it well.
Wait a few hours before laying down so the food you’ve eaten has had plenty of time to digest.
Avoid Putting Stress on the Throat
If you know you have silent reflux or think you may have silent reflux one thing you can do to keep symptoms from getting worse is to try and stop clearing your throat. Try taking a sip of water and see if that helps or try swallowing.
Over the Counter Medications
Your doctor may prescribe long term OTC medications such as Prilosec. The problem with these medications is they only temporarily provide relief. They don’t make the issue go away and there can be many side effects.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar may help reduce stomach acid - which taken before a meal may help eliminate reflux. Try adding 1 teaspoon to 8 ounces of water and drink slowly prior to eating.
Apple cider vinegar could interact with some medications, so talk to your doctor prior to drinking it.
Other things your doctor may recommend:
- A procedure called esophageal dilation
- If you smoke, your doctor will probably suggest you consider quitting
- Instead of sitting long term after a meal, walk around a little to help with digestion.
If you are unsure of your symptoms, visit your doctor, they should be able to diagnose the issue. It's possible they may recommend a minimally invasive endoscopy procedure to look at the esophagus for possible scarring or other issues.
