Laryngopharyngeal reflux, commonly shortened to LPR is the backflow of stomach content from the stomach into the larynx. It leads to the inflammation of the airways from the nose to the lungs, and therefore it causes several respiratory diseases. It is worse when someone is already suffering from an infection of the airways, such as pollen allergy or asthma.
LPR & Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
LPR is characterized by the retrograde flow of stomach contents including gases from the stomach into the larynx while GERD is characterized by the same flow of food back into the mouth. Clearly, these diseases are closely related because they are mainly caused by the failure of sphincters in the esophagus.
The Sensation of a Lump in the Throat
It is normal for a person suffering from LPR to feel like there is a swelling or a lump of mucus in the throat. The throat can actually swell when it is severely inflamed by the gastric gases making their way to the larynx. However, more often than not, the feeling that something is stuck in the throat is as a result of the sphincter between the throat and the esophagus pressing hard against the throat to resist the gaseous reflux. This feeling is normally called the Globus syndrome, and it makes swallowing of food difficult. It also leads to frequent belching after taking a meal.
Difficulties When Breathing In
As noted earlier, the LPR leads to the spread of stomach gases to all parts of the respiratory system. These gases fill and irritate various parts of the respiratory system leading to difficulties in inhalation. This difficulty in inhalation is brought by the accumulation of mucus in the airways and post-nasal drip which occurs when the nasal cavity is filled with mucus. Additionally, with the airways already full with gastric gases, bringing in more air without expelling the existing gases is difficult from a scientific point of view.
Discomfort When Speaking
If you are experiencing hoarseness when speaking, get tested for LPR. The larynx is a vital body organ for speech, and since it is directly affected by LPR, the chances are that you are suffering from this disease if you can’t speak well. You may also be feeling an irresistible urge to clear your throat or cough whenever you are speaking, further indicating that your airways are inflamed.
Diagnosis & Treatment
If you have one or more of the aforementioned symptoms, get tested for LPR and treat it while it is still in its bud stage. Luckily, LPR treatment is easy when the disease is diagnosed early. Behavioral and dietary changes are enough to restore your health. In particular, you need to exercise regularly and avoid overeating of fatty foods.
In general, if you want to keep LPR at bay, you should familiarize yourself with the disease, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Information on this disease goes a long way in preventing and treating it in the right way.…