What happens if stomach acid gets in your throat

Have you had a cough, tickle in the throat, itchy throat, or raspy voice that will not go away despite not having a cold or feeling sick? Is excess mucus causing you to clear your throat so often that it is annoying and, at times, embarrassing?  Many who suffer from these symptoms are treated by doctors and urgent care physicians with allergy medications, nasal sprays, decongestants, and even antibiotics. Despite this, symptoms do not get better. Often these symptoms are not caused by allergies, a sinus infection, or a cold, but by laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Also called airway reflux, reflux laryngitis, or atypical reflux, LPR is one of the most common diseases of the 21st century. Unlike gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which primarily affects the esophagus, LPR will affect the larynx and pharynx—your voice production system.  Lissette Giraud, MD, provides insight into and answers common questions about this widespread condition.  

What causes LPR?

It is commonly accepted that this condition is caused by reflux of acid or bile. GERD symptoms like heartburn are not typical of the condition but may appear. The most common symptoms of LPR are hoarseness, sore throat, excess mucus in the throat, persistent cough, asthma-like, symptoms (wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing), postnasal drip, sensation of a lump in the throat, difficulties swallowing, and ear pain. However, LPR presents differently in each person.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have a sore throat, painful swallowing, cough, difficulty swallowing, or hoarseness for 10-14 days, you should seek medical attention, preferably from an ENT.

What is the treatment for LPR?

Treatment will vary in accordance with the severity of symptoms. It can be as simple as making changes to your diet, like avoiding spicy foods, tomatoes, chocolate, caffeine, citrus beverages or foods, and alcohol.

Other solutions include:

• Avoiding large meals
• Eating three hours or more prior to going to bed
• Elevating the head eight inches when sleeping
• Smoking cessation
• Losing weight if you are overweight

Your doctor may also recommend a medication to reduce acid production in the stomach, like Zantac or Pepcid, for a few weeks or longer.Stronger medications may be recommended if diet and life style changes have not worked.

Do I need any tests like CT scans, X-rays, or MRI’s to diagnose LPR?

The diagnosis of LPR is mostly based on symptoms and an office procedure called flexible laryngoscopy—an endoscopic exam of the voice box and throat performed by an ENT—and response to treatment. In some cases an upper endoscopy examination to evaluate the stomach and esophagus for inflammation, ulcers, or any abnormal lesion may be recommended. More advanced tests like pH testing and esophageal manometry are less frequently recommended and are typically done for difficult cases.

What are the complications from untreated LPR?

If LPR is left untreated, patients may experience vocal cord lesions like polyps or granulomas, chronic laryngitis, or asthma.

If you or a loved one suffers from the above symptoms, visit an ENT doctor, who will be prepared to do a complete evaluation and determine if you have LPR and recommend treatment.

Acid reflux occurs when your stomach contents, mostly digestive juices, backflow into your esophagus or throat. One common symptom is a sore throat.

Having acid reflux on occasion is nothing to worry about, especially if you’ve just a had a large meal. However, if you have acid reflux two or more times per week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and you should talk to your healthcare provider.

Acid reflux can also be a symptom of other health conditions. They are usually conditions that put pressure on, loosen, or weaken the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) valve, the muscular ring connecting the esophagus with the stomach. The LES normally prevents food from moving out of the stomach and back up into the esophagus.

A few strategies you can use to get rid of acid reflux in throat include:

• Making lifestyle changes (e.g., avoiding fatty foods and alcohol, not eating too close to bed time)
• Taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications
• Talking to your provider about prescription medications
• Using general sore throat home remedies for your symptoms
  

Why Acid Reflux Hurts Your Throat

When someone has GERD, the LES becomes weak or fails to close tightly, causing food and stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus. The lining of the esophagus can become inflamed or irritated from these acids, which can cause a burning chest pain and sometimes a sour taste or cough. Sore throat is often one of the symptoms of GERD.

Short-term sore throat from acid reflux is caused by the digestive fluids burning your tissues. Long-term sore throat can indicate GERD with coughing, which adds to the inflammation, swelling, and throat pain.

Effects of Acid Reflux

You can’t ignore chronic acid reflux, hoping it will go away. If nothing else, the fluid or feeling in the back of your mouth will make you want to swallow, and it will burn going back down. It will only get worse until you do something.

If you have GERD complications, other serious health problems including respiratory diseases, or conditions that could be masked by GERD symptoms, the best thing you can do is talk to your healthcare provider.

Serious complications of GERD can include:

• Esophagus erosion: Esophagus tissue lining is worn away by acid, so sores (ulcers) may develop.
• Barrett’s esophagus: This refers to damage to the lower portion of the esophagus. It’s usually a result of repeat exposure to stomach acid. The esophagus lining starts to resemble an intestine lining.
• Esophageal cancer: The risk of esophageal cancer seems to be higher in people who have more frequent symptoms.

Acid Reflux Sore Throat Remedies

When you have the occasional acid reflux episode, sore throat remedies can help. However, the most relief you will get is by addressing the underlying cause of your chronic acid reflux.

Some lifestyle changes may also be able to help. Once you begin treatment for your condition, you’ll notice you won’t need to manage symptoms as much.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Contact your practitioner if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Appetite loss
• Persistent vomiting
• Problems or pain while swallowing
• Signs of bleeding in the digestive tract, such as vomit that contains blood or looks like coffee grounds, and stools that contain blood or look black and tarry
• Unexplained weight loss

Lifestyle Changes

One of many studies found that quitting smoking improved not only people’s acid reflux episodes, but their overall quality of life scores as well.

Some foods are GERD triggers and should be avoided to prevent reaction, including:

• Spicy, minty, fatty foods
• Acidic fruits and fruit juices, such as citrus and tomatoes
• Coffee, chocolate, and other sources of caffeine
• Carbonated beverages, such as soda, kombucha, and tonic water
• Alcoholic drinks
• Eating within three hours of bedtime

OTC Medications

You can get over-the-counter antacids, such as Tums and Rolaids, to help neutralize your stomach acids and reduce acid reflux symptoms. They are convenient when you’re at a dinner event and start to feel heartburn. They are not for everyday use, though.

There’s growing concern about how often we’re choosing to suppress our stomach acid to prevent acid reflux. Research says around 30% of people using acid suppressors like antacids still have symptoms. Some researchers aren’t sold on the idea of suppressing acid production as a way of fighting acid reflux, calling it counterintuitive.

Other OTC medications include:

• H2 receptor blockers: H2 blockers lower the amount of acid your stomach makes. H2 blockers can help heal the esophagus, but not as well as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can. You can buy H2 blockers over the counter, or your healthcare provider can prescribe one.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): PPIs lower the amount of acid your stomach makes. PPIs are better at treating GERD symptoms than H2 blockers, and they can heal the esophageal lining in most people with GERD. You can buy PPIs over the counter, or your healthcare provider can prescribe one. Healthcare providers may prescribe PPIs for long-term GERD treatment.

Sore Throat Remedies

If acid reflux is hurting your throat, you can:

• Drink extra cold liquids
• Gargle with salt water to alleviate inflammation and irritation
• Add honey to a warm beverage
• Suck on lozenges or a popsicle

Prescription Medications

Symptoms of acid reflux from GERD are usually manageable, but if you have not found relief with OTC options or lifestyle changes, you can talk to a healthcare provider about prescription-strength options (prescription medications).

It may be the case that you only need prescription medications to help with symptom management until you can change lifestyle factors enough to not need the medication anymore. This may not be the case for everybody. Talk to your practitioner to see what’s right for you.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe the following medications:

• Lioresal (baclofen): Reduces the relaxation of the LES which allows acid backwash
• Prokinetics: Strengthens the LES and helps stomach empty faster

Summary

The best way to cope with the sore throat caused by acid reflux is to identify and manage the cause of your acid reflux. In the meantime, you can drink warm beverages, gargle with salt water, and suck on lozenges or a popsicle to alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms.

A Word From Verywell

If you’re experiencing a sore throat from acid reflux, it may be time to talk to your healthcare provider. If you have not tried lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and avoiding irritating foods, you can start there, one choice at a time.

It’s not easy, but even reducing smoking by a single cigarette or alcohol consumption by a single drink a day can make a difference. The longer you can work on your goals, the better equipped you are to prevent serious complications such as esophagus erosion and cancer.

Your healthcare provider may talk to you about other factors, including weight, sleeping habits, and your diet. If your acid reflux is severe, you can take OTC and even prescription medications to help with the symptoms and minimize the occurrence of acid reflux.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. American College of Gastroenterology. What is GERD?

2. American Society for Gastrointenstinal Endoscopy. Understanding gastroesophageal reflux disease.

3. American Cancer Society. Esophageal cancer risk factors.

4. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.

5. Kohata Y, Fujiwara Y, Watanabe T, et al. Long-term benefits of smoking cessation on gastroesophageal reflux disease and health-related quality of life. PLOS ONE. 2016;11(2):e0147860. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147860

6. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. How is gastroesophageal reflux disease treated? 

7. Clarke JO, Fernandez-Becker NQ, Regalia KA, Triadafilopoulos G. Baclofen and gastroesophageal reflux disease: seeing the forest through the trees. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2018;9(3):137. doi:10.1038/s41424-018-0010-y

8. ENT and Allergy Association. 16 best sore throat remedies to make you feel better fast, according to doctors.

Additional Reading

• Emerenziani S, Rescio MP, Guarino MP, Cicala M. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease and obesity, where is the link? World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(39):6536-6539. doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i39.6536

By Michelle Pugle
Michelle Pugle, BA, MA, is an expert health writer with nearly a decade of contributing accurate and accessible health news and information to authority websites and print magazines. Her work focuses on lifestyle management, chronic illness, and mental health. Michelle is the author of Ana, Mia & Me: A Memoir From an Anorexic Teen Mind. 

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