One of the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is chronic Acid Reflux Sore Throat that is a result of damage from stomach acid entering the throat. This type of sore throat can last longer than a week. It often occurs with a cough or an acid taste in the mouth. This soreness can be deep in the throat, and it could wake you up in the middle of the night, with trouble in breathing similar to that of an asthma attack.
Some people who do not have heartburn as one of their symptoms of acid reflux instead have acid reflux sore throat or perhaps experience coughing, wheezing, or hoarseness. Sore throat caused by acid reflux is usually more severe in the morning because being in a horizontal position makes it easier for acid to get to the esophagus.
An acid reflux sore throat may be described as a burning in the throat. Some people can have fluid that tastes hot, sour, acidic, or salty at the back of the throat. This fluid may be attributed to regurgitation, which moves sour or bitter-tasting gastric fluids up into the throat or mouth. The sour or bitter taste of acid reflux in one’s throat and mouth can last minutes if one is lucky, or hours if one is not. In general, people with sore throat from acid reflux probably need stronger and longer heartburn treatments and will need to discuss such treatments with health service providers.
A causal agent of acid reflux sore throat may also possibly be medication. One of the possible serious side effects of histamine-2 (H2) blockers or antagonists, which are used as prescription or over-the-counter medicine for treating reflux and relieving heartburn, happens to be sore throat. A few examples of these H2 blockers are cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine. Sore throat after taking H2 blockers needs to be reported promptly to your doctor.
Hoarseness is a related symptom to acid reflux sore throat because they have same cause. When acid reflux has gotten past the upper esophageal sphincter, it can flow into the pharynx (throat) and even the larynx (voice box) to cause hoarseness or sore throat.
Acid reflux is evidently the most common cause of chronic laryngitis. It is so common that this type of laryngitis is known as reflux laryngitis.
Another related symptom to acid reflux sore throat is dysphagia, a narrowing of the esophagus. It creates the sensation that something is stuck in the throat and results in difficulty with swallowing.
