{"id":182,"date":"2019-06-20T12:27:56","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T16:27:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/easterncarolinaent.fm1.dev\/throat\/reflux\/"},"modified":"2020-03-24T13:44:25","modified_gmt":"2020-03-24T17:44:25","slug":"reflux","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/easterncarolinaent.com\/ent\/throat\/reflux\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflux"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Acid\nreflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a chronic digestive\ncondition that causes painful heartburn and regurgitation for millions of\nAmericans every year. It occurs when the contents of the stomach seep backward\ninto the esophagus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laryngopharyngeal\nReflux (LPR), also referred as extraesophageal reflux or silent reflux, is a\nterm that refers to the backflow of food or stomach acid coming all the way\nback into the larynx (voice box) or pharynx (throat). This can happen in the\ndaytime or evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\nCauses Reflux?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Normally,\nfollowing a meal, a valve on your esophagus \u2013 the sphincter \u2013 closes,\npreventing hydrochloric acid produced in the digestive process from backing up\n(refluxing) into the esophagus. When reflux occurs, this valve fails to seal\nproperly, and the stomach contents flow freely into the throat and esophagus.\nThis damages the esophageal lining and causes a variety of painful symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other\nrisk factors can help to exacerbate the condition. These include eating large\nmeals or lying down afterward, eating certain foods (spicy and fatty foods,\ncitrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic and onions), drinking certain beverages\n(alcohol, caffeine, carbonated liquids), smoking, obesity and pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\nAre the Symptoms of Reflux?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While\nGERD and LPR are similar, their symptoms can vary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heartburn\nis most commonly associated with GERD. Also known as acid indigestion, this\nburning pain radiates from the stomach to the abdomen and chest, and may last\nfor up to two hours after a meal. It is frequently accompanied by\nregurgitation, a sour taste in the mouth, and dyspepsia or general stomach\ndiscomfort. Other symptoms often include belching, bloating, coughing,\nwheezing, hoarseness and nausea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms\noccur most frequently after eating, when lying down or when bending over. They\nare most common at night. The most common cause of GERD is a hiatal hernia, a\nstomach abnormality that causes the sphincter valve and upper portion of the\nstomach to move above the diaphragm, allowing stomach acids to reflux more\neasily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nmain difference between the two is heartburn. Most with LPR never experience\nheartburn because the material does not stay in the esophagus for a long period\nof time, so the acid does not have enough time to irritate the esophagus and\ncause heartburn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms\nof laryngopharyngeal reflux include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n