affecting the throat
Acidic juices that are pushed into the esophagus from the stomach cause acid reflux in the throat. The affected throat is irritated by the presence of acid contained in partially digested food regurgitated from the stomach. Persistent acid reflux can cause symptoms in the back of the throat or pharynx leading to sore throat and voice problems. These laryngopharyngeal symptoms, unlike the typical heartburn associated with GERD with which a person can easily identify, can catch the sufferer off guard and are therefore known as silent or atypical reflux.
Symptoms
Symptoms of acid reflux in the throat include excessive accumulation of phlegm or mucus in the throat, leading to frequent throat clearing resulting in hoarseness or sore throat, a lump sensation in the throat, choking sensation, and wheezing. A nagging feeling remains in the throat of a stuck coating or food. The problem is particularly pronounced in the morning. The voice does not remain natural and sounds slow. For people severely affected by acid reflux from the throat, there may be cases of pneumonia or laryngeal ulcer. This results as a consequence of an injury to the esophagus caused by the partially digested acidic juice. If reflux goes untreated for a long time, it can even lead to cancer of the esophagus or throat. The longer the disease persists, the greater the scarring of the vocal cords. Crying and irritable children can indicate that they suffer from acid reflux in the throat that causes respiratory problems, swallowing difficulties, choking, pneumonia and asthma.
things to avoid
Heartburn affected throat and vocal cords require ongoing treatment to heal. Symptoms of acid reflux in the throat are aggravated by throat lozenges and cough drops that contain eucalyptus oil and menthol, since in addition to causing irritation in the throat, they stimulate the stomach to secrete more acid. Other things that can aggravate the situation are mouthwashes, breath fresheners, chewing gum and hard candy.