What is acid reflux?
Acid reflux occurs when acidic stomach juices back up from the stomach into the esophagus. This acid sometimes spills into the larynx.
There are two different kinds of acid reflux:
gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).
A person can have one or both kinds of reflux.
GERD occurs when stomach acid flows up from the stomach into the esophagus. It usually occurs at night when people are laying down. Symptoms may include: heartburn, belching, regurgitation of stomach contents andswallowing difficulties.
LPR occurs when stomach acid travels up through the esophagus and spills into the larynx or pharynx (voice box). It can occur during the day or night. The acid irritates the vocal folds and surrounding tissues. As the acid moves quickly up through the esophagus into the larynx, patients with LPR often do not experience heartburn. Symptoms may include: hoarseness, excessive mucus (throat clearing), post-nasal drip, coughing, throat soreness or burning, choking episodes (can wake person up out of a sound sleep), difficulty swallowing or feeling of a lump in the throat.
Learn how to control your acid reflux once and for all.
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