Acid Reflux Can Permanently Damage the Throat and

Acid Reflux Can Permanently Damage the Throat and Esophagus

By Belinda Burchick, RPh, BPharm

We all get acid reflux from time to time, but continuous untreated acid reflux may lead to long-term damage of the throat and esophagus.

The throat is the front part of the neck leading to the esophagus and trachea. The esophagus is between the throat and the stomach. There is an important valve, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) between the esophagus and stomach. This valve may fail to work over time causing acid to enter the esophagus.

You may experience the following due to acid reflux in the throat and esophagus: • Hoarseness or voice problems • Constant need to clear throat • Sore throat, difficulty swallowing, or feeling there is a “lump” in the throat • Persistent cough or tickle in throat to cause cough • Abdominal pain, chest pain or back pain • Heartburn or indigestion • Regurgitation; stomach acid or contents coming back up into esophagus and mouth

Chronic untreated acid reflux may lead to esophageal disorders, such as the following:

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD ) is the most common. This happens when the LES does not work properly, so acid can back flow into the esophagus.

Esophageal strictures in which the esophagus becomes too narrow, causing food to slowly travel to the stomach.

Barrett’s esophagus may result due to untreated chronic acid reflux. The esophageal lining near the stomach becomes thickened and inflamed. Although rare, this condition may pose a risk of esophageal cancer.

If you experience these symptoms consistently, reach out to your health care provider and they will evaluate your symptoms. They may perform other diagnostic tests such as an endoscopy, X-rays, esophageal manometry, or a pH test to measure acid in the esophagus.

Treatments vary depending on the condition. They may include:

• Antacids, proton pump inhibitors, and H2 blockers to reduce acid production • Endoscopic dilation to open a narrowed esophagus or relax a sphincter muscle • Laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery (Nissen fundoplication) to treat GERD by reinforcing the lower esophageal sphincter

Since acid reflux is the most common cause of damage to the esophagus, it is important to understand the cause of acid reflux and ways to prevent it. Complications of acid reflux can cause aspiration of food or acid contents into your trachea then into lungs, which may lead to lung infection or pneumonia.

Acid reflux can be due to the inflammatory foods we eat, medications, infections, chemicals, candida overgrowth, imbalance of beneficial gut bacteria and chronic stress.

Eliminate or significantly reduce sugar, artificial sweeteners, additives, preservatives, dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, processed foods, junk foods and fast foods.

Find ways to reduce acid reflux:

• Be active • Maintain a healthy weight • Avoid eating no less than three hours before laying down • Decrease consumption of caffeinated or carbonated beverages, spicy or fatty food and tomato sauce. • Eat smaller meals throughout the day • Chew food slowly and thoroughly, count to 30 • Caution when bending over, especially after eating • Raise the head of your bed about 3 inches • Limit alcohol use • Stop smoking

Keep in mind, it may take 1-3 weeks or longer to heal esophagus. After you heal, you need to go into maintenance mode to prevent future acid reflux.

Although we started with the damage to the throat and esophagus and the cause being acid reflux, it leads us to a common culprit, the overgrowth of the bad bacteria in our gut. Eat foods that promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria, including apples, oats, kombucha, flaxseeds, onions, ginger, healthy fats, fiber-rich foods, prebiotic-type fruits and vegetables, probiotics in foods and supplements, and fermented vegetables.

Don’t take your esophagus for granted, and take all measures to prevent acid reflux. Your throat and esophagus play a vital role in carrying nutrients that are in the food or drink you swallowed, so that it can be absorbed into your body throughout the digestive process. n

Belinda Burchick, RPh, BPharm, has focused her career on geriatric pharmacy and automated dispensing systems to promote patient safety and improve health outcomes. For the last 10 years, she has served as Chief Pharmacy Officer (CPO) for a long-term care pharmacy, servicing the geriatric population in nursing homes, assisted living, independent living, and the senior day programs, such as, Pennsylvania’s LIFE programs and the PACE programs in multiple states. Belinda oversees the pharmacy operations in three pharmacies, located in Denver, Philadelphia and headquarters in Pittsburgh.