Heartburn and Sore Throat: Symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease
If you have frequent bouts of heartburn and find that you have a sore throat, it may be time to seek medical attention for acid reflux. When the throat is exposed to stomach acids over long periods of time, it can become significantly damaged. Esophageal damage can lead to serious complications, including cancer.
Sore throat is caused by the swelling of the pharynx, a part of the throat that is located behind the tonsils and at the top of the esophagus. Most of the time, a sore throat is the temporary symptom of some type of cold or flu. But for people who suffer from chronic heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), these heartburn symptoms can be persistent problems.
Normally, a sore throat can be treated with lozenges and warm liquids until the offending virus is defeated by the body’s immune system. In some cases, such as with an infection and with heartburn, relieving the pain of a sore throat means solving the root problem.
Sore throat for people who suffer chronic heartburn is a very aggravating condition. The cause of the pain is damage by regurgitating acids from the stomach. As the throat becomes raw after repeated exposure to these acids, heartburn can occur again and irritate it even more; essentially adding salt to the wound.
How does Heartburn Cause Sore Throat?
Heartburn occurs when stomach acids rise up into the esophagus and cause a burning sensation behind the breastbone. This may also include regurgitation, a symptom in which the acids make it all the way up the esophagus and into the mouth. This is where the stomach acids can cause the most pain.
Normally, the muscle at the base of the esophagus known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) prevents this from happening. Each time we swallow a food or liquid, the LES opens momentarily to allow the substance into the stomach. It then closes again to keep the substances in the stomach. The stomach produces acids to help digest what we have consumed so that it can move further through the digestive system.
In people who suffer from GERD, this process becomes altered so that the acids are allowed to enter into the esophagus and up to the throat to cause damage. This can occur for a couple of reasons.
The LES can become weak after repeated exposure to stomach acids, reducing its ability to remain constricted and block the acid. Aging and esophageal conditions can also weaken the LES. People who drink a lot of alcohol can experience problems with this type of heartburn because alcohol relaxes the LES.
Gastric pressure can cause acid to be forced through the LES and into the esophagus to far enough to irritate the throat. Gastric pressure can be caused by eating foods that produce large amounts of gas as they are digested, by drinking a lot of carbonated liquids, by lying down with a full stomach, and by wearing clothing that is too tight or bending over after eating a large meal.
Pregnancy and obesity increase gastric pressure because the organs in the body become displaced and leave less room in the digestive organs. Obesity can also cause the LES to stretch, making it impossible for the muscle to close tightly and block acids.
H. pylori bacteria living in the stomach can also cause an increase in gastric pressure. These bacteria can lead to gastritis – the chronic swelling of the stomach lining. Over time, it can cause sores to form in the stomach and stimulates the production of more acids.
Problems with the LES closing are complicated by conditions that cause overproduction of stomach acids which lead to heartburn.
Heartburn Friendly Sore Throat Remedies
The very best method to remedy heartburn and sore throat is to avoid the causes in the first place. GERD is triggered most often by the foods that we eat. Avoiding foots that are high in fat and heavily seasoned can help prevent much of the pain caused by heartburn. Citrus fruits and items that lead to LES relaxation such as alcohol and chocolate can also be avoided.
Not all foods cause heartburn in all people, so it is important to identify which foods cause heartburn and try to eliminate them. When elimination is impossible, try to consume them only in moderation. Also avoid lying down, bending over, and wearing tight close after eating to reduce gastric pressure.
If you develop a sore throat because of heartburn, consider seeking medical attention for GERD. There are medications that are specifically designed to prevent these symptoms from occurring.
Home remedies may help provide immediate relief and include warm, non-caffeinated beverages like green tea with honey. Lozenges, fat-free hard candies, and some over the counter throat sprays can assist in temporarily relieving sore throat pain.