Have you ever felt pain in your chest, nausea, and heartburn after consuming certain foods or drinks? If so, it could be a sign of gastric acid rise in the body. Unfortunately, this condition can occur without any symptoms. That’s why this condition is also called “Silent Reflux”.
Laringofaringeal reflux, other designations of this silent reflux, occur when gastric acid comes into contact with the esophagus, or vocal cords. This leads to irritation, discomfort, and burning sensation. Unfortunately, this condition is just noticeably after more serious symptoms arise and cause certain damage.
Causes
When you eat, the food will pass through your mouth, down into the esophagus, and into your stomach. Then, your digestive system starts the process of breaking down foods, extracting nutrients, and producing waste.
Sometimes, stomach acids can go back up to your esophagus. But your body is designed to prevent this. The sphincters around the bottom and over the esophagus shrink to keep your stomach content from reflux into the esophagus and throat. People with silent reflux may have a sphincter that does not close.
Risk Factors
People of all ages and genders can develop silent reflux. Some people, however, may be more inclined to develop them.
Risk factors for silent reflux include:
- Lifestyle factors such as diet, excessive eating, or toba**cco or alco**hol.
- Physical causes such as a deformed or damaged esophageal sphincter, slow emptying of the stomach, or excess weight
- Pregnancy
Children and infants may experience silent reflux more frequent as the upper sphincter muscles and their lower esophagus are not strong enough to close. This can improve with their increasing age.
Silent Reflux Symptoms
Often, not a few people misinterpret the silent reflux with GERD. In fact, both are different health problems. Silent reflux often occurs without heartburn sensation or causes few symptoms. Meanwhile, one of the symptoms of GERD is the emergence of heartburn sensations.
Here is a silent reflux symptom that distinguishes it from GERD disease:
Hoarseny Sound.
When gastric acid rises to your voice box, or larynx, you may find your voice sounding more hoarseness or rougher than usual. These symptoms may be especially noticeable in the morning, because acids are often more likely to move up the throat when you lie down.
Throat problems / Desire to keep the throat clean.
Acid reflux to the pharynx, or behind the throat, can also cause atypical symptoms. You may feel as though you are constantly experiencing a sore throat, or always need to cleanse your throat. In addition, it may seem like there is a lump behind your throat that will not disappear. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing, or disturbing coughs.
Read also: GERD and Coughing: Correlation, Causes, and How To Prevent It
4 Other symptoms
- Asthma
- Difficulty swallowing;
- The throat feels bitter;
- Pain or burning sensation in the throat.
If you have one of those few complaints, don’t be ignored. Check into the hospital immediately so you can get a faster handling.
How to overcome the symptoms of laryngeal reflux acid or silent reflux.
The primary key in overcoming the laryngeal reflux or the symptoms of silent reflux is almost the same as the symptoms of chronic gastric acid.
The trick is to implement a healthy lifestyle and avoid the risk factor. These include:
- Avoiding foods that can trigger stomach acid reflux
- Lose weight If you’re overweight or obese
- Quit smo**king
- Reduce alco**hol consumption
- Stop eating at least three hours before bedtime
- Sleeping with head position slightly higher, about 10-15 centimeters from the mattress.
In addition, the disease can also be treated with gastric acid medication with or without a prescription. Examples of gastric acid medication without a prescription are antacids or H-2 blockers that are equally beneficial to prevent gastric acid from returning up to the esophagus.
If Antacids or H-2 blockers do not work, the doctor may prescribe a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication, such as omeprazole, which can help reduce gastric acidity.
So when stomach acid that you feel more severe, consult a doctor immediately to overcome the symptoms of LPR stomach acid or silent reflux.
Read also: How To Cure GERD Permanently
