Silent” refers to the fact that LPR often doesn’t cause the heartburn associated with acid reflux, though it sometimes does. Giving an update – may help others. Prior to this reflux I had some diarrhea and more flatulence than normal. I changed some eating and then starting eating bread & rice (binding foods). Things quieted down and firmed up. Then this all happened. As most know, the doctors haven’t been any help. (ENT, GP, Pulmonary, GI, Cardiologist) Zalvan, C. H., et al. (2017). A comparison of alkaline water and Mediterranean diet vs proton pump inhibition for treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Melzer J, Rösch W, Reichling J, Brignoli R, Saller R. Meta-analysis: phytotherapy of functional dyspepsia with the herbal drug preparation STW 5 (Iberogast). Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Dec;20(11-12):1279-87. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.02275.x. PMID: 15606389.

Hoarseness / Pain When Speaking – A hoarse voice is often one of the first symptoms that LPR sufferers experience. This, as the larynx (voice box) is very close to the esophagus and consequently has higher exposure to potential reflux. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. She was a bit reluctant to admit a problem like silent reflux could be causing such a debilitating cough and subsequent decline in her health. That changed when we put her on an elimination diet.We produce pepsin in the stomach when we consume protein. Less so with plant-based protein. Therefore, it makes sense that a more plant-based diet with reduced animal protein may help with silent reflux. In fact, researchers found when they compared the effects of diet to strong heartburn medications for the treatment of LPR, diet was more effective! Both are incredibly soothing and anti-inflammatory which will help ease your throat and your whole digestive tract. So, while they will ease your symptoms, they should also lessen your acid reflux symptoms and effects too! Medications to treat silent reflux, such as antacids, are available over the counter (OTC). These can help prevent the acid from returning to the esophagus.

Though there was one exception and that was a simple one – tea! Not any kind of tea though. The tea options I recommend are chamomile and marshmallow root. This could save money, eliminate the risk of side effects, and provide a person with the other health benefits associated with following a plant-based diet. I am not sure if you are still active here. your post resonates with me almost 100%. I am currently expecting and has started to suffer from this condition during pregnancy as well. normally I never had any issue with my digestion. everyone says it will go away during pregnancy, but hearing your experience, I am skeptical. my pregnancy has been more difficult than anyone I know aorund me. the constant nausea/spittng/mucus clearing has been really tough on me. I read you said you become very depressed, and as have I. I have to stop all my activities including writing/reading(nausea makes it hard to concentrate)/exercising. I walk around with a spit cup constantly, and also wake up multiple times a night to clear throat. It wears me off and energy wise it is also very debilitating. Oesophageal Inlet patch; there is evidence that in some patients a small patch of acid secreting tissue at the top of the oesophagus can cause irritation of the adjacent larynx and pharynx. In these patients this is probably an embryological remnant. Research of this condition is on-going. It's best to take these with food or soon after eating, as this is when you're most likely to get heartburn. They may also work for longer if taken with food.

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Pereira Rde S. Regression of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms using dietary supplementation with melatonin, vitamins and aminoacids: comparison with omeprazole. J Pineal Res. 2006 Oct;41(3):195-200. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2006.00359.x. PMID: 16948779. Bang CS, Yang YJ, Baik GH. Melatonin for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease; protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Jan;98(4):e14241. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000014241. PMID: 30681611; PMCID: PMC6358381. In one study, hiatal hernia was found in 53% of reflux patients [ 4], which suggests that hiatal hernia may be one underlying cause of reflux. Some studies suggest that slow gut motility (the movement of food through the digestive tract) may be an underlying cause of reflux [ 12]. Research suggests this may be true, as blends of prokinetic herbs, like Iberogast or RKT (a Japanese herbal blend including ginger and ginseng), have been shown to improve reflux, heartburn, and lower esophageal sphincter function [ 8, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29]. Stomach acid that pools in the throat and larynx can cause long-term irritation and damage. Without treatment, it can be serious.

Mandi4, thanks for your reply. I, too, have had the tests you mention. I have also taken dessiccated adrenal gland in the hope my adrenals might be underfunctioning and that would be the answer. Sadly that didn't help either. I have spent fortunes on this - every pill, supplement, diet that's been suggested. Please let me know how you get on. Yancy WS Jr, Provenzale D, Westman EC. Improvement of gastroesophageal reflux disease after initiation of a low-carbohydrate diet: five brief case reports. Altern Ther Health Med. 2001 Nov-Dec;7(6):120, 116-9. PMID: 11712463. The silent reflux diet is similar to other balanced diets that are usually high in fiber, lean proteins, and vegetables. A 2004 study showed that increasing fiber and limiting salt in your diet can protect against reflux symptoms. Gaviscon Advance; especially in liquid form coats the oesophagus and sits on top of the stomach contents. It can help to bind Pepsin and stop acid irritation and tends to be helpful in LPR. Thomas G. Guilliams, PhD; Lindsey E. Drake, MS. Meal-Time Supplementation with Betaine HCl for Functional Hypochlorhydria: What is the Evidence? Integrative Medicine. Volume 19, No. 1. February 2020.

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It’s important to get treatment if you think you may have silent reflux. Left untreated, it can lead to the more advanced esophagus and throat damage of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) [ 1, 2, 3]. Symptoms of LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux)

Lastly, on the topic of low stomach acid I want to mention the fact that the stomach is designed as a highly acidic environment. In fact, as a measure of acidity from 1-14pH, with the highest levels expressed in low numbers, stomach acid is naturally in the range of 1-3 pH. This is slightly less potent than battery acid! Normally, the stomach, its mucosal lining, and your anti-reflux barriers are more than a match for this highly corrosive environment. It is necessary for digestion, to kill harmful pathogens in support of your immune system, and to support healthy balance of gut bacteria. For this reason, it is quite often that Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) often accompany low stomach acid.

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Saller R, Pfister-Hotz G, Iten F, Melzer J, Reichling J: Iberogast(r): Eine moderne phytotherapeutische Arzneimittelkombination zur Behandlung funktioneller Erkrankungen des Magen-Darm-Trakts (Dyspepsie, Colon irritabile) – von der Pflanzenheilkunde zur «Evidence Based Phytotherapy».Eine systematische Übersicht. 2002;9(suppl 1):1-20. doi: 10.1159/000068645 The physician may request an endoscopy of the gut if certain concerning symptoms are present, such as: Ear infections – The ear, nose, and throat are all connected so inflammation, bacteria, and mucous responses can express through any of the three organs. NOTE: It’s important not to self-prescribe herbs. Contrary to popular belief, just because herbs are “natural” doesn’t make them inherently safe. They may interact with your medications or have unwanted side effects. This is especially true with formulas that contain multiple herbs. Where you source your herbs also matters. For example, herb adulteration or the manufacturing malpractice of replacing ingredients listed on the bottle, with cheaper, lower quality ingredients may be harmful to your health. And they probably won’t help either. So always talk to a regulated healthcare provider, ideally a naturopathic doctor, before adding herbal medicine into the mix! Silent Reflux: Not a Life Sentence