Silent acid reflux, also known as Laryngopharngeal Reflux or LPR, is a condition that you could be suffering from without even knowing it, and can have many negative impacts on health. Similar in many ways to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (better known as GERD), there are a few critical differences that can make silent reflux very difficult to treat, and even harder to diagnose.
As opposed to traditional GERD, silent acid reflux may not present itself with symptoms normally associated with the condition. Normally reflux disease causes a burning sensation in the chest or throat, as well as the stomach. LPR is called silent reflux because often it does not cause these same problems, but can cause a number of other symptoms--including, but not limited to:
Caused by a weakness in the muscles between the esophagus and the stomach, silent reflux can have many negative long and short term implications such as recurring ear infections, ulcers in the stomach and throat, scarring of the throat and voice box, in addition to very serious conditions like emphysema and cancer.
The diagnosis of LPR can be very difficult and often produces unclear results. There is a way to measure the acidity in the upper esophageal area as well as using techniques, such as combined pH and impedance monitoring. Often, there is a need to make a trial of a variety of medication's to try and eliminate the symptoms. And evaluation by an ear nose and throat doctor is essential to our other causes such as postnasal trip.
It takes a very skilled Gastroenterologist to diagnose silent acid reflux--if you suspect you may have the condition, it is important to consult a Physician immediately.