Do you ever feel like there’s a lump in your throat that won’t go away, even after clearing your throat? Stubborn throat mucus may be an indicator of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), or silent reflux. The gunk in your throat may also be accompanied by hoarseness, irritation in the throat and constant throat clearing.
What Is Laryngopharyngeal Reflux?
LPR is a form of reflux, but it’s hard to identify as such at first because it doesn’t cause heartburn, indigestion or other symptoms commonly associated with reflux. However, the mechanism is the same: the valve separating your esophagus from your stomach doesn’t close all the way, allowing stomach acid to flow back up. With silent reflux, the acid flows further up the esophagus and causes irritation in the throat and voice box.
How to Reduce Reflux
Here are some lifestyle tips that may help reduce reflux and prevent those nasty throat symptoms.
- Drink at least 64 ounces of water every day. Staying hydrated helps thin mucus and reduce irritation.
- Keep dairy to under 12 ounces per day. Dairy can thicken mucus and worsen throat symptoms.
- Avoid foods that can make LPR worse. These include caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, onions, spicy foods and fried foods.
- Don’t eat within 3 hours of bedtime. Lying down too soon after a meal increases the likelihood of reflux.
How to Tell if You Have Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Many people with LPR don’t realize that it’s acid reflux, instead believing that it’s allergies, a cold or other malady. As it happens, if you have chronic hoarseness, there’s about a 50% chance that it’s silent reflux.
If you’ve noticed chronic hoarseness, chronic cough or just needing to clear your throat too often, consider visiting an ENT specialist. We’re specialists in conditions affecting the throat (that’s what the “T” in ENT stands for!), including acid reflux. We’ll check your throat for signs of tissue damage or inflammation that could indicate the presence of stomach acid in the throat.
If you’re ready to find relief from silent reflux, or if you want to learn more about LPR, give us a call at Blue Ridge ENT.