How to Treat Silent Reflux: Don’t Suffer in Silence
Do you struggle with a consistently sore throat or a constant urge to clear your throat? If your vocal cords are always hoarse and irritated, you may be suffering with silent reflux. Luckily, silent reflux treatment is as straightforward as other reflux diseases; the most challenging part is recognizing that this is what’s causing your problems!
What Is Silent Reflux?
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPR), also known as silent reflux, is a commonly misdiagnosed condition because it doesn’t present at all like other reflux conditions. With silent reflux, patients usually complain of constant sore throat, cough, and irritation of the vocal cords and lungs. Since these symptoms are so different from heartburn (the indicator normally associated with reflux), patients may not even make the connection that they need to see a reflux specialist.
How Are LPR and GERD Different?
When we think about what causes silent reflux and GERD, it may be tempting to assume that they are the same. In both diseases, symptoms are caused by stomach acid regurgitating up into the esophagus; however, GERD patients usually experience relief after taking a proton pump inhibitor (though we don’t recommend this as a weekly, long-term solution), while silent reflux patients don’t. Why?
For patients with LPR, the stomach acid refluxes up into the esophagus further, and there is no burning sensation in the chest. Current knowledge has revealed that pepsin (an enzyme responsible for digestion in the stomach) is actually to blame for silent reflux symptoms. This means that the management of your LPR may need a completely different approach.
So What Are My Silent Reflux Treatment Options?
Though these conditions have different effects on your day-to-day life, many of the treatment options that are available for LPR are actually the same or similar to GERD, as both deal with chronic reflux. Some options are more viable than others, so make sure you speak to you reflux specialist about which course of action is best for you, but for now, here’s a basic run down.
Treatment Option 1: Lifestyle Changes
Much like with GERD patients, we recommend that our patients with silent reflux evaluate their diet and other lifestyle factors. Stay away from tight clothing, sleep and rest as upright as is possible— or lie on your left side. Avoid spicy, overly-acidic foods and drinks, and keep a food log to identify your triggers. One study from 2011 found that “a strict low-acid diet appears to have beneficial effects on the symptoms” of LPR.
We also recommend that you limit or eliminate alcoholic beverages. If you must go out and have a drink with friends, keep these tips in mind. Your reflux doctor may also recommend that you exercise and lose some weight; there is a higher incidence of all kinds of reflux in individuals who are overweight or obese. Just remember to use low-impact exercises so as not to upset your existing symptoms.
Treatment Option 2: Medication
There are many over-the-counter medications that you may be tempted to use, but we recommend that you avoid taking medication for your silent reflux. These drugs have proven to be ineffective in treating LPR since they target acidity, not the presence of pepsin in the esophagus. Furthermore, upon the cessation of PPIs, patients find that their reflux symptoms are far worse than before.
Here at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we know that reflux medications can cause side effects and induce dependency. If lifestyle changes aren’t working for you, it may be time to consider a more invasive technique.
Treatment Option 3: Surgery
Since silent reflux is caused by a weakened lower esophageal sphincter (just like GERD), surgical techniques are the most effective way to treat LPR. Here at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center, we offer three surgical techniques to help manage your symptoms: Lap Nissen Fundoplication, Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF/Esophyx), and the LINX surgery.
Silent Reflux Treatment in Tampa Bay
Thanks to increasing knowledge in the field of reflux, you don’t have to suffer in silence. You aren’t crazy for needing to clear your throat all the time— something is going on. Reach out to one of our reflux specialists today to help determine the right course of action for your silent reflux symptoms.