Contents:
- Medical Video: How To Overcome Acid Reflux - Ken Tamplin Vocal Academy
- What is laryngopharyngeal reflux or silent reflux?
- What are the symptoms of stomach acid that comes quietly?
- So how do you deal with the symptoms of stomach acid?
Medical Video: How To Overcome Acid Reflux - Ken Tamplin Vocal Academy
For most people, symptoms of stomach acid are very easy to feel for a moment after eating acidic or spicy foods. For example, feeling heartburn and a burning sensation in the throat when stomach acid rises. Well, it turns out that some other people just don't feel any symptoms even though they are actually exposed to stomach acid reflux. Well, this condition is called laryngopharyngeal reflux or silent reflux. So, what are the symptoms of stomach acid that is often not realized? Here's the explanation.
What is laryngopharyngeal reflux or silent reflux?
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a condition when stomach acid rises into the esophagus and falls in the voice box. This occurs because the sphincter (valve) of the esophagus is weakened or damaged so that it does not close completely. As a result, food that has entered the stomach can go back up to the esophagus, throat, voice box, even to the back of the nose.
LPR is also called silent reflux or gastric acid reflux secretly (hidden). The reason is, the symptoms of LPR are almost similar to those of gastric acid (GERD), but tend not to cause heartburn or burning sensations in the chest (heartburn) and throat. This is why laryngopharyngeal reflux is often mistaken for other diseases that have similar symptoms.
Both women and men of all ages can experience laryngopharyngeal reflux, even infants and children. However, this risk can increase if you experience the following conditions:
- Unhealthy lifestyle, such as overeating, smoking, and drinking alcohol
- The esophageal sphincter is damaged or malfunctioning and the gastric reflex is slow
- Overweight
- Pregnancy
Reporting from Medical News Today, about 50 percent of people affected by stomach ulcers begin with hidden gastric acid symptoms. No matter how small the amount of stomach acid that rises into the esophagus, the lining of the throat and your voice box can be easily irritated. Therefore, you need to be aware of the symptoms.
What are the symptoms of stomach acid that comes quietly?
Just as the name suggests, laryngopharyngeal reflux or LPR only shows a few symptoms of stomach acid and tends to be vague. Symptoms of LPR that occur in adults include:
- Bitter taste in the throat
- A sore throat or a burning sensation in the throat
- Difficulty swallowing, feeling like something is stuck in the throat
- Hoarseness
- Cough often
- Chronic postnasal drip, a condition when mucus is too much in the nose and throat
- Asthma
Meanwhile, the symptoms of LPR in infants and children are actually not much different from adults. It's just that babies and children who experience LPR tend to feel vomiting, have difficulty breastfeeding, and have difficulty raising weight.
If you suspect one or two of the hidden acidic symptoms, see a doctor immediately. Because if left unchecked, rising stomach acid will irritate your esophagus, throat and vocal cords. This can cause scarring, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and cancer.
So how do you deal with the symptoms of stomach acid?
The main key in overcoming laryngopharyngeal reflux or the symptoms of stealthy stomach acid is to adopt a healthy lifestyle and stay away from risk factors. This includes:
- Avoid foods that can trigger stomach acid reflux
- Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
- Quit smoking
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Stop eating at least three hours before going to bed
- Sleep with your head slightly higher, about 10-15 centimeters from the mattress
In addition, this disease can also be treated with stomach acid drugs with or without a prescription. Examples of non-prescription gastric acid drugs are antacids or H-2 blockers which are equally beneficial to prevent stomach acid from returning to the esophagus.
If antacids or H-2 blockers don't work, doctors may prescribe proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole, which can help reduce gastric acidity. So, immediately consult a doctor to treat symptoms of LPR stomach acid.
