Silent Acid Reflux

Diagnosis of any disease is based on the prevalent symptoms associated with that particular disease. The symptoms help in identification and effective treatment of the condition. But what about the diseases that have no symptoms at all? How are they diagnosed and treated? One such condition is 'silent acid reflux'. It has no specific symptoms and hence is difficult to diagnose. Many people suffering from silent acid reflux are not even aware of it and realize only when the condition becomes too severe.

What is Silent Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux, as we all know, is a condition when the contents of the stomach travel back in the throat through the esophagus. Heartburn and indigestion are the common symptoms associated with acid reflux disease. However, sometimes this condition may rarely have any symptoms, and it becomes very difficult to know if the person is suffering from any acid problem. This condition is referred to as silent acid reflux, the word 'silent' used to indicate vague or complete absence of symptoms like heartburn. This condition may also be known by the term 'laryngopharyngeal reflux' which refers to the back flow of stomach acid not only up the esophagus, but all the way up to the larynx or the pharynx.

Silent Acid Reflux Causes
The causes of this disorder are similar to those of acid reflux in the stomach as both are associated with back flow or reflux of stomach acids. There can be several causes that may lead to stomach acid reflux. Here are some of the acid reflux causes:

• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Fried Foods
• Caffeine
• Heavy meals
• Red meat
• Dairy products
• Tight clothing
• Obesity
• Hiatal hernia

Silent Acid Reflux Symptoms
This condition arises when there is something wrong with the sphincter muscles and they do not function normally. There are two sets of sphincter muscles that allow food and drink to pass into the stomach and prevent the back flow. When the lower set of muscles fail to do their job well, the stomach contents pass into the lower esophagus. However, as the lower esophagus is not very sensitive to the stomach acids, it does not cause heartburn, which is a common symptom associated with acid reflux. But there is a different set of symptoms that may be associated with silent acid reflux. They are as follows:

• Irritation in the throat
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Hoarseness in the voice
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Choking sensation
• Bitter taste in the mouth
• Lump in the throat sensation
• Excessive mucus production
• Sinus problems
• Sleep apnea
• Excessive snoring

Silent Acid Reflux in Infants
Children and infants are often seen suffering from acid reflux and it is extremely difficult to diagnose the condition in case of infants. The digestive juices come up through the esophagus in the infants, but instead of spitting out, are swallowed down back into the stomach. This allows the stomach acids to spend more time in the esophagus where they can damage the inner lining and the digestive tract. Hence, children with these problems must be taken to the specialist immediately for pH-metry and other tests.Some of the symptoms are

• Sudden burst of crying
• Frequent hiccups
• Persistent cough
• Sour breath
• Poor feeding habits
• Blood in the stool or spit up
• Poor sleeping habits

Silent Acid Reflux Remedies
There are several remedies that work similarly for both disorders. The best remedy is to identify and cut down on the foods that trigger acid reflux. Smoking and excessive intake of alcohol and caffeine can permanently damage your throat and hence should be avoided. Change in lifestyle and diet can be more effective than the medications. Surgery may be needed for people suffering from severe acid reflux to prevent the permanent damage to the voice box.

This was all about silent acid reflux. So, if you observe any of the above symptoms, consult your physician immediately and get the condition treated as it can lead to permanent damage of the throat, voice box and esophagus.