Sore Throat set off by Acid Reflux

Acid reflux can cause a number of seemingly unconnected other problems, and having a sore throat is just one of them. So how are these two ailments actually connected?

In this article we’re going to look at what acid reflux is and how it can cause a sore throat, we’ll have a look at some of the ways you can treat your sore throat, and finally we’ll see if there are ways of preventing the problem in the first place.

What is acid reflux, and how can it cause a sore throat?

Let’s start with a very brief anatomy lesson. There is a band of muscles known as the lower esophageal sphincter. These muscles are, essentially, a one way barrier between the esophagus and the stomach i.e. food travels down the esophagus, through the lower esophageal sphincter, and into the stomach; occasionally something goes wrong and the ‘barrier’ allows food out of the stomach and back up the other way; this is acid reflux.

Now that this partially digested food has a free passage, so to speak, to travel up the esophagus, there’s really nothing to stop it from reaching your throat, and that’s where this problem begins.

The partially digested food still contains some of the stomachs digestive acids, and these play havoc with the lining of the throat. However you have to be a little careful when self-diagnosing as the symptoms will be similar to one of the many other illnesses that can cause a sore throat.

What can you do to relieve yourself of your sore throat?

Many of the old ‘sure fire’ remedies will still work for this kind of problem, so let’s just have a look at what some of them are.

Home remedies:

Gargling – gargling with warm salty water is a good way to help soothe the inflammation; remember not to swallow or you may end up with even more problems.

Water – drinking a lot of water can also help. Also, make sure the water is nice and cool.

Extra sleep – while this may sound like an odd one, there is some method to the madness. When you’re asleep you don’t tend to notice the problem so much, and while you sleep the inflammation has time to subside.

Something cold – Cold drinks or popsicles are great when it comes to curing sore throats.

Sweets – good old hard sweets (also known as candies or lollies) help to produce saliva; and you aren’t really swallowing anything at the time that may aggravate the soreness. Saliva is thought to neutralize any acids remaining in the throat because the saliva has bicarbonates in it.

If the home remedies aren’t working then you may want to head to your nearest pharmacy to see what off the shelf medication is available.

If, however, you start to feel as though you’re having other problems such as you’re struggling to breathe, there are other pains, or you’re feeling dehydrated, then you should visit your doctor instead.

How can we prevent acid reflux, or at least stop it from giving us a sore throat?

The first thing you’ll need to look at is your eating habits. If you’re suffering after having a meal then try cutting back on things like: onions, spicy foods, fried food, fatty foods, and tomato based foods.

Also think about eating smaller meals so that your stomach isn’t going to get too full, and eat slower. Eating slower not only gives you brain time to register when you’re full, it can also give the body time to start digesting some of the food already in it.

Other things to cut back on are: coffee, alcoholic drinks, chocolate, citrus fruits, caffeinated drinks, fruit juices, spearmint, and peppermint.

There we have it; how to prevent acid reflux related sore throats.

There are a number of home remedies you can try that will work well, but if you prefer you can use the shop bought remedies, but, if it’s starting to give you other problems then see a doctor.

There’s no real reason why you should continue to have a sore throat that’s been caused by acid reflux.

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Tagged as: acid reflux, Acid reflux cause, Sore throat