How Acid Reflux And Gerd May Damage The Throat
In addition to potentially damaging the lower esophagus, frequent heartburn or GERD may also damage the upper throat. This can occur if the stomach acid comes all the way up into the back of the throat or nasal airway. This condition is often referred to as laryngopharyngeal reflux .
LPR is also sometimes called silent reflux, because it doesnt always present symptoms that people readily recognize. Its important for individuals with GERD to be checked for LPR to avoid any potential throat or voice damage. Symptoms of LPR may include the following:
- hoarseness
- feeling of a lump in the throat
- chronic cough or cough that wakes you from your sleep
- choking episodes
- Eat smaller meals more frequently and take your time chewing.
- Avoid overeating.
- Increase physical activity if overweight.
- Increase fiber in your diet.
- Increase fruits and vegetables in your diet.
- Stay upright for at least one hour after meals.
- Avoid eating 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
- Avoid trigger foods like high-fat and high-sugar items, alcohol, caffeine, and chocolate.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
What Causes Chronic Cough
There are several medical conditions that are linked to chronic cough. These include respiratory conditions, such as:
- Asthma: This is the second most frequent cause of chronic cough. Shortness of breath and wheezing happen when you have asthma. These breathing difficulties can result in a chronic cough. There is also a form of asthma where chronic cough may be the only symptom.
- Bronchiectasis: This condition causes coughing because mucus builds up and lung tissue gets thicker.
- Bronchitis: This condition is a known cause of coughing due the swelling that happens in the bronchial tubes and the increase in mucus production. There are two types chronic and acute.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : COPD is actually a term that refers to a group of respiratory issues that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
- Upper respiratory conditions like flu, pneumonia and colds: These infections are generally caused by viruses. Coughing is one symptom that tends to last after the others are through. The viruses attack the nose, the throat and the sinuses.
Other reasons for chronic cough include sinusitis and allergies. Sinus problems and allergies, along with upper respiratory infections, produce post-nasal drip. This drip is sometimes feels like a tickle in the back of the throat, and drainage can lead to chronic cough. This tickle happens when the amount of draining mucus is larger than usual.
- Benazepril .
- Ramiparil .
- Tandolapril .
There Are Various Reasons Why You Could Be Experiencing A Cough Or Sore Throat
Post-nasal drip will also irritate your esophagus and occurs because of sinusitis or the more chronic allergic rhinitis also known as Hay Fever. Post-nasal drip occurs when your sinuses become clogged, hence the term plugged up. Usually, youll experience additional symptoms, such as nasal congestion, sneezing and a runny or itchy nose, similar to symptoms we notice when our are acting up.
Even food allergies can cause a sore throat. Generally, youll notice almost instant swelling and enlarging of the throat, which can quickly advance to anaphylaxis. This is a much more serious allergic reaction than an irritated throat. Often allergy medications , such as Benadryl, can have side effects such as a dry, scratchy throat, along with dry mouth. Consult a doctor before taking any medication and monitor your reactions to these types of allergy medicines.
For those with more serious allergies, symptoms can last an entire season, especially in the springtime. The flu and common cold will generally only have symptoms for a week to two weeks. If it is allergies, you will most likely also experience:
- tiredness
- itchy, watery eyes
- post-nasal drip
Its important if you are experiencing these symptoms to get tested by your local allergist. Rather than treating the symptoms, its best to find and treat the cause.
Recommended Reading: Drugs That Make You Itch
Constant Throat Clearing Due To Food Allergies
In rare cases, food allergies or any sensitivity, can also cause irritation in the mucosa of the throat or can lead to accumulation or production of excessive throat mucus, which triggers the act of throat-clearing. Most common foods are dairy products, such as wheat, egg, soy, rice, etc. which cause reactions. Treatment comprises of avoiding these foods.
Clearing Your Throat And More: At
- The lining of your nose, sinuses, and throat actually the entire respiratory tract is lined by mucous membranes that manufacture and secrete mucus.
- If you take medications targeting mucus and post-nasal drip, you may feel better for a time, but because you havent managed your reflux, the problem will continue.
- Respiratory reflux is associated with too-much thick mucus that is hard to move it is the stuff you hock up when you feel it dripping or stuck in your throat.
- Allergies are usually associated with thin mucus and runny nose, as well as sneezing and itchy eyes.
- Reflux is by far the most common cause of post-nasal drip, too much mucus and chronic throat-clearing.
From Jamie Koufman, World’s Leading Expert on Acid Reflux
The most common cause of chronic throat clearing, too much mucus and post-nasal drip is acid reflux. We call it silent reflux because it doesnt have the best-known symptoms, heartburn or indigestion. However, only 20% of people with reflux have those symptoms. Most people who have acid reflux have silent reflux and respiratory issues, including problems with throat mucus.
Post-nasal drip is a symptom and not cause of other conditions. This is important to understand! For example, post-nasal drip does not cause chronic cough, but reflux can cause both the drip and the cough. Many patients undergo unnecessary tests and procedures for these problems unnecessarily because doctors dont understand respiratory reflux very well.
Also Check: Over The Counter Allergy Medicine For Skin Rash
Will Wearing A Mask Reduce The Spread Of Allergies As Well As Covid
In addition to reducing the transmission of respiratory droplets from individuals who may have COVID-19, wearing a mask may also help filter out some larger pollens, especially if your mask includes a small filter and you wear your mask outdoors, notes Dr. Barnes. Unfortunately, smaller pollens will still likely make their way in, even with a mask on, and will not eliminate the need to use allergy medications.
Cough That Lasts May Be Sign Of Underlying Problem
Dear Mayo Clinic:
What could cause a cough that lasts for months? I take antihistamine tablets and use nasal saline spray but still cough throughout the day and at night.
Answer:
Coughing is a normal reaction to irritants in your respiratory system. Coughing forcefully expels foreign bodies, mucus and other irritants, such as pollution, from your throat and clears them from your airway.
However, when a cough lasts too long, it may be a sign of an underlying problem or disease. Moreover, coughing itself becomes a problem. The forces exerted on your body by persistent coughing can result in direct physical problems such as damage to your vocal cords, rupture of small blood vessels in your airway, fainting spells, hernias or even broken ribs. It can also harm the quality of your life, sleep and social life.
When a cough lasts longer than six to eight weeks, it’s considered a chronic cough. Diagnosing the cause can be time-consuming, but is usually a critical first step which involves systematically eliminating probable causes through history taking, testing and trying different treatments. Common causes of chronic cough include:
In smokers, persistent cough and phlegm production is common. Throat or lung cancer may be suspected in a smoker or former smoker who has a chronic cough that changes abruptly or lasts for more than one month following smoking cessation, or if they cough up blood or note a change in their voice.
Depending on your diagnosis, treatment may include:
Recommended Reading: Allergy Tablet Name
Is It Allergies Or A Cold
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between allergies and the common cold. There are more than a hundred strains of cold viruses. Each tends to become widespread at certain times of the year, which is why you may mistake a cold for a seasonal allergy. Allergies occur at the same time every year and last as long as the allergen is in the air . Allergies cause itching of the nose and eyes along with other nasal symptoms. Colds last about one week and have less itching of the nose and eyes.
Can We Tell Them Apart
Fever, sore muscles or muscle weakness
Hayfever, despite its name, does not cause increased body temperature. Flu-like illnesses do cause fever, and sore muscles , malaise and fatigue.
Allergies such as hayfever may cause a slight malaise without the other symptoms, probably due to a stuffy nose and poor sleep.
Snoring, dark circles under the eyes and sleep
The nasal congestion from hayfever and other types of rhinitis often increases the potential to snore during sleep. And if you have those dark circles under the eyes, thats likely down to chronic poor-quality sleep, as nasal congestion and snoring worsen.
Itchy nose and eyes, plus sneezing
An itchy nose and eyes are classic hayfever symptoms, as is intense, prolonged sneezing.
You can sneeze with a cold or flu, but usually only in the first few days of the infection.
Longer-lasting symptoms
Allergic reactions tend to come and go from day to day, or even from hour to hour, particularly if some environments are the source of the offending allergens. Perennial rhinitis can be present for weeks or months, far longer than any viral cold or flu.
It is rare for a cold to last more than a week, as the body has fought off the virus by that time. Exceptions to this are the cough and sinus symptoms that were triggered by the virus but persist for other reasons.
Antihistamines
Read more:Coronavirus or just a common cold? What to do when your child gets sick this winter
Recommended Reading: How To Read Allergy Skin Test Results
Avoid Allergens And Illness
Exposure to allergens can cause the body to produce more mucus than normal. Allergens can include animal dander, pollen, dust mites, fragrance, certain foods, and much more. If you have allergies, avoiding these things can help reduce excess mucus production. Additionally, getting sick with a cold can cause mucus to build-up in your throat and sinus cavities. As the common cold season is approaching, wash your hands frequently, support your immune system, get enough sleep, and keep your distance from others.2
Also Check: What Helps Breathing With Asthma
What Causes Catarrh
Catarrh is usually caused by the immune system reacting to an infection or irritation, which causes the lining of your nose and throat to become swollen and produce mucus.
This can be triggered by:
- a cold or other infections
- non-allergic rhinitis
- nasal polyps
It’s unclear what causes chronic catarrh, but it’s not thought to be the result of an allergy or infection.
It may be related to an abnormality in the way mucus travels within the nose or an increased sensitivity to mucus in the back of the nose and throat.
Page last reviewed: 16 November 2018 Next review due: 16 November 2021
Recommended Reading: 12 Hour Allergy Relief
When To See A Gp
Speak to a GP if your catarrh persists and is becoming difficult to live with.
They may want to rule out conditions that could be causing it, such as nasal polyps or allergies.
This may mean you need to be referred to a specialist for tests.
If you’re diagnosed with a specific underlying condition, treating it may help relieve your catarrh.
For example, nasal polyps may be treated with a steroid nasal spray, or in some cases surgery.
If a cause for your catarrh cannot be found, the self-help techniques above may be recommended.
Unfortunately, however, chronic catarrh can be hard to treat and may last for a long time.
Causes Of Constant Phlegm In Throat
Phlegm is quite common, normal, and required for proper bodily function. Your body produces about 1 to 1.5 liters of mucus per day.1
Mucus oils the engine so to speak, lubricating your tissues and keeping them from drying out. It also contains antibodies and enzymes that identify and destroy bacteria and germs. This sticky goo even traps dust and germs before they make their way into the rest of your body.2
Phlegm is produced by tissue in your throat, lungs, mouth, nose, sinuses, and gastrointestinal tract. Most of the time this mucus drips down your throat unnoticed. But certain conditions can cause the consistency to change, commanding both attention and throat clearing.
Here are a few of the most common causes of persistent phlegm in throat.
You May Like: Allergy Pills Names
What Can You Do
Drink warm lemon and honey this is a tried and tested cough remedy for good reason as the warm liquid helps to soothe the throat and rid it of irritation.
Help out your immune system the immune system is put under a great deal of strain when its busy fighting off allergens so its a good idea to help it out as best you can. You may want to take some Echinaforce Echinacea Drops for example, which support the immune system.
Stay hydrated water helps to wash out any allergens that are lurking in the throat and which are therefore causing a cough. However, it also stops your throat from getting dry and irritated which would worsen a cough.
Allergies Do Not Cause Fevers
People often wonder if allergies can cause a fever. The answer is no. Allergies cannot cause a fever, though you could have an allergy flare at the same time youre experiencing a fever from another infection.
With a cold, your temperature can run warmer, but typically it will be less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read Also: What Allergy Medicine Has Cetirizine
Milk Does Not Cause Middle Ear Infections
Middle ear infections are common in early childhood, and especiallyin children who have allergic rhinitis . Allergic inflammation causes swelling in the nose and around the opening of the ear canal, interfering with drainage of the middle ear.
Children with cow’s milk allergy may appear to have more frequent infections. This is not because milk causes infection, but rather because children with food allergy are more likely to have allergic rhinitis and other allergies.
Sore Throat Caused By Allergies
Got a sore throat? Allergies might be to blame. Though many sore throats can be caused by viruses, such as the common cold or flu, or bacteria such as strep throat, allergies are an over-overlooked culprit. If you suspect your sore throat might be caused by allergies, heres what you need to know about treating the problem and alleviating the symptoms.
Don’t Miss: Diphenhydramine Vs Pseudoephedrine
Some Throat Clearing From Mucus Is Normal
Skin is the lining covering the outside of the body, and the lining on the inside of us is made up of mucous membranes. It may come as no great surprise, but the mucous membranes manufacture and secrete mucus. The lining of the nose, sinuses, throat, actually the entire respiratory tract, is lined by mucous membranes and under normal circumstances the nose and throat make about a quart of mucus a day. This normal mucus is not too thick or not too thin, and it is usually swallowed unnoticed.
The respiratory systems mucus has many functions, but its two most important are its lubrication and barrier functions. Inhaled viruses, bacteria, and particulate matter are trapped on and in this sticky layer, which prevents such foreign material from being absorbed or attacking us all the time. When the mucus membranes are irritated or inflamed, they produce more/ excess mucus. Many things can cause this, including allergy, acid reflux and inhaled irritants. And when there’s too much mucus, it causes throat clearing.
Talk With A Doctor Or Clinician To Create A Personalized Treatment Plan
If you arent sure if its a cold or allergies, or if your symptoms are severe or long-lasting, its best to connect with a care provider to get an official diagnosis and treatment plan.
If your allergy symptoms are left untreated, you could become more prone to getting sinus infections or other upper respiratory infections, or may lead to poor asthma control.
Also, a common cold can turn severe. So, if your cold has had you laid up longer than a day or two, get in touch with your doctor.
You have a couple options:
Make an appointment for face-to-face care from a primary care doctor or clinician. Whether you choose a video visit or in-person appointment, your doctor will listen to your symptoms, answer questions and work with you to create a tailored treatment plan including connecting you with an or an if needed.
Start a virtual visit anytime, anyplace through Virtuwell. With Virtuwell, no appointment is necessary and treatment is available 24/7. Getting started is easy. Well ask you a few questions, and youll get your diagnosis and treatment plan from a board-certified nurse practitioner. Each visit is just $59 or less, depending on your insurance.
You May Like: Allergy Relief Side Effects
Greek Study Finds Symptom Common In Many Undiagnosed Cases
WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2003 While most people associate asthma with wheezing and shortness of breath, the disorder can show itself in other, less common ways, especially in small children.
Thats the conclusion of a new study from Greece finding that, for some children, frequent throat clearing is the only apparent symptom of asthma. Results of the study appear as a research letter in the April 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Asthma can show up in many different ways, explains Dr. Michael Wasserman, a pediatrician at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans.
Since kids often cant express what theyre feeling, its conceivable that if they feel a tightening in their chest, the only noticeable way they might react to that would be clearing the throat, says Dr. Phillip Korenblat, a spokesman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and a professor of clinical medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Five million American children under 18 have asthma, according to the AAAAI. Symptoms of the lung disorder include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and a tight feeling in the chest. Now, the study says, doctors should look for constant clearing of the throat.
Almost 18 percent of the children had been diagnosed with asthma in the preceding 12 months. Almost 24 percent had been diagnosed with asthma more than 12 months before the start of the study.
More information
