“Silent reflux” can leave your voice hoarse and raspy, often without any heartburn. Here’s why it happens and what to do about it
SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
If your voice sounds rough, you keep clearing your throat or it feels like something is stuck in there, you may blame allergies or a cold. But the real cause could be your stomach.
Doctors call it laryngopharyngeal reflux, or LPR. It’s often known as “silent reflux” because many people never feel heartburn. Stomach acid and digestive enzymes travel up the esophagus to the voice box and throat, according to Weill Cornell Medicine. The voice box isn’t as well protected as tissue closer to the stomach, so even small amounts can irritate the vocal cords.
Common signs include chronic hoarseness, a sore throat that won’t go away, a nagging cough, frequent throat clearing, and the feeling of a lump in the throat, according to Banner Health. The condition is often mistaken for asthma or post-nasal drip.
What you can do:
Stop eating at least three hours before lying down. Raise the head of your bed. Cut back on spicy, fatty, and fried foods, tomatoes, citrus, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks. Eat smaller meals, quit smoking, and keep a food diary to find your triggers.
Over-the-counter acid reducers may help, but it can take several weeks to see a change. Weill Cornell advises against treating yourself for more than two to three weeks without seeing a doctor.
Hoarseness that lasts four weeks or more should be checked by an ear, nose and throat specialist, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Smokers who become hoarse should go right away. See a doctor quickly for trouble breathing, pain when speaking, or a severe voice change lasting more than a few days.