How Is Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) Different From Acid Reflux (GERD)?
Since you are here at this site, you must be familiar with the term Acid Reflux.
What about LPR? Are you familiar with that term?
LPR stands for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and is very similar to acid reflux or GERD. The main difference is that in most cases, there is no heart burn involved. As such, many LPR victims may not be even aware of their acid reflux condition.
In your esophagus, there are two separate sphincter muscles present. They are
- The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and
- The upper esophageal sphincter (UES)
Acid reflux occurs when stomach acids flow in to the esophagus through lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Those who are having a malfunctioning lower esophageal sphincter are known to be suffering from this condition. If you suffer from this condition at least twice a week, you are considered to be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
How is it going to be different when the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) is not working properly? What if this happens in addition to a malfunctioning lower esophageal sphincter?
In this case, the stomach acids which goes up in to the esophagus will go up in to the throat and some times even in to the voice box. Now this is how LPR or Laryngopharyngeal Reflux occurs.
How is LPR different from GERD? Are the symptoms the same for both diseases? Can people suffer from Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) without having any symptoms of Acid Reflux (GERD)? Can LPR occur without any heart burn at all? This is totally possible. Some of the people who suffer from LPR do not suffer from heart burn at all! How is this possible? Heart burn occurs when the acids stays in the esophagus and burns the surface. But in LPR, these stomach acids are not staying in the esophagus long enough to cause heart burn. In this case, acid goes past the esophagus and rests in the person’s throat or voice box. As the throat is more sensitive than esophagus, this will result in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux symptoms and not heart burn associated with GERD.
Some of the symptoms associated with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux can be Continual throat clearing, Chronic throat irritation, Chronic cough, Hoarseness, Excessive phlegm in the throat, Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, Constant feeling of something present in the throat area, Swallowed food comeing back up, Post nasal drainage, Weak voice, Cracking voice, Blockage of the breathing passage, Spasm of the larynx (voice box), Wheezing, Heartburn etc.
Your doctor may have to use any of the following procedures so as to diagnose the condition.
- Laryngoscopy which can be made use so as to locate any changes in the patient’s throat and voice box.
- 24-hour pH testing can be used to see if stomach acids are moving in to the throat area or not.
- Upper GI Endoscopy is used to find any or all abnormalities or growths present in the esophagus. This is usually performed when the patient is complaining of difficulty in swallowing food.
For the most part, treatment of LPR is the same as that of GERD.
[tags]Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)[/tags]
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Hey, I have acid reflux too. I’m taking TCM, but the symptoms are still not gone. Nausea is preventing me from studying and I feel sick and tired the whole day. I’ve been eating mints to stop the nausea but i read that mint will cause acid reflux too? Is there anyways to stop nausea caused by acid reflux? Thanks(:
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