So what exactly is silent reflux?
And is there anything that you can realistically do to mitigate some of the silent reflux symptoms that are most commonly associated with this condition? Lets start with a quick understanding of the human anatomy so that we can better visualize what we are talking about with regard to silent reflux. Keep in mind, silent reflux is a bit different (in some ways) than reflux in babies. It’s best not to confuse the two, even though they are similar. Both will be discussed. Okay, laryngopharyngeal reflux is the fancy way of describing silent reflux. You need to try to keep that in mind in case you are doing additional research and find that particularly large and complicated word being used instead of the more common “silent reflux” which is not only more descriptive but a lot easier to pronounce! We are basically talking about a situation where the contents of your stomach, particularly acid, backs up into your larynx. The larynx is basically your voice box. Your pharynx, a fancy way of saying the back of your throat, can also be affected by this particular condition.
Why Does Stomach Acid Back Up Into Your Larynx And Pharynx?
The best way to explain what happens is to try to visualize a tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. On either end of this tube are a variety of muscles that help regulate what’s going on. When you have silent reflux, these muscles are not really working the way they should be. As a result, stomach acid travels from your stomach back up into your throat. Few people realize just how caustic gastric acid can really be. Unfortunately, inflammation tends to occur. Remember how a moment ago we talked about reflux in babies being different than what silent reflux is? Here is one area where there is similarity. The basic problem is the same. However, reflux in babies is the result of the muscles that control the tubes connecting one’s mouth to one stomach not really being fully developed yet. Not to mention, the amount of distance between the stomach and the mouth is a lot shorter in a baby. Also, it should be noted that the baby spends a lot of time laying down which can cause problems.When it comes to adults experiencing silent reflux, the precise reasons are not entirely clear. Obviously, something is malfunctioning with regard to the way in which this tube that connects the mouth and the stomach is operating.
Symptoms Of Reflux In Babies
Generally speaking, it’s not unusual for babies and children to experience hoarseness, trouble gaining weight, and noisy breathing when they are dealing with this particular type of condition. In addition, babies have a tendency to spit up a lot when they are experiencing reflux in babies. Adults have slightly different symptoms. You will notice that many adults find themselves experiencing what would appear to be a persistent cough. While it’s true that they will also experience some hoarseness, it may not be evident when they are speaking. Many adults indicate that it feels as though they have a lump in their throat that doesn’t seem to resolve itself despite drinking water, eating food, or swallowing. Any kind of excessive throat clearing is also an indication that silent reflux may be present.While less common, some adults indicate that they feel as if though they have a sore throat that just won’t go away. This sore throat can sometimes make it difficult to swallow things and presents them with an additional challenge when it comes to breathing. Taken as a whole, all of the aforementioned silent reflux symptom need to be taken into consideration to verify the diagnosis.
What Are The Potentially Harmful Side Effects Associated With Silent Reflux?
You really need to understand that the acid that exist within your stomach can really be harmful to other parts of your body that are not adequately protected from this particular type of acid. As you can imagine, stomach acid that affects your throat will cause a lot of irritation. Over time, this irritation can create other problems that can be very serious. Therefore, it makes sense for adults to use a high degree of caution and care when dealing with this condition.Children are also at risk of having complications develop as a result of this stomach acid being exposed to parts of their body that are not equipped to deal with it. Some of these silent reflux symptoms can include ulcers, fluid building up in the ear canal, ear infections is seem to happen over and over again, and damage to the vocal cords.
How Can Silent Reflux Be Diagnosed?
You will definitely want to schedule an appointment with your doctor so that an endoscopic exam can be performed to see your throat, vocal cords, and to take a look at what’s going on inside of your esophagus. The acidity level within your esophagus can be measured through pH monitoring which enables your physician to better determine how much acid is percolating in that area.With proper care and treatment, silent reflux doesn’t have to be a condition that slows you down or diminishes the quality of your life.