Introduction

Research says that the prevalence of GERD in patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms is far greater than what is expected.¹ The cause and effect of this issue is unknown, which makes treating this disease difficult. When you are affected by GERD, you may feel its effects for a very long time, and within that period, from time to time, you may experience symptoms of laryngitis due to the acid that travels up from your stomach to your throat.¹

In this article, we will be exploring the relationship between laryngitis and GERD. We will chat about the link between these two diseases, and you will learn more about GERD and laryngitis and how you can employ some measures to help reduce the painful effects of GERD.

Brief overview of Laryngitis

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx, an organ located in the throat. The larynx is what helps you use your voice. Its damage could be due to various things, including but not limited to the destruction of the laryngeal mucosa, which is a result of gastroduodenal contents such as stomach acid coming up into the throat. This damage can be caused by either a chronic symptom of GERD or a singular incident.²

What is GERD?

Something as minute as a heartburn could be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is why it is advised to see your general practitioner or a doctor when you consistently feel this way.³

Simply, GERD is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in Western countries, with a 20% prevalence among adults.⁴ This is a chronic disease that manifests in the oesophagus and is classified as either oesophageal or extraesophageal syndrome (EES). The following are the symptoms of this disease:⁵

• Chronic cough
• Laryngitis
• Globus
• Throat discomfort
• Heartburn
• Tasting stomach acid
• Chest pain
• Dysphagia
• Nausea
• Problems swallowing

GERD happens when your lower oesophageal sphincter has defects; it relaxes when it should not, or it is weak, causing the contents in your stomach to move up to the oesophagus. This disease can be caused by various things, such as medicines like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or a hiatal hernia.⁶

Research shows that in spite of laryngitis being one of the symptoms of GERD, looking into more reasons for an association is paramount due to the lack of evidence on the causal relationship.⁷

What is the link between GERD and laryngitis?

For starters, it is important to be able to distinguish between gastroesophageal reflux and laryngopharyngeal reflux: laryngopharyngeal reflux is the action of the contents in your stomach escaping into the oesophagus, while gastroesophageal reflux is the outcome of this that can cause irritation in the throat, heartburn, and many other symptoms. Note this difference because they are sometimes used interchangeably in the medical field.⁵

I will paint a picture for you that showcases the link between GERD and laryngitis.

The cycle of GERD and Laryngitis starts with constant and repeated exposure of stomach acid in the larynx which to leads to swelling and irritation. When the larynx is repeatedly exposed to stomach acid, it starts to deteriorate, and symptoms like pain in the throat and speaking difficulties in the morning or right after eating. These symptoms are what characterise laryngitis. The worse these symptoms become, the more they aggravate GERD symptoms, making this a never-ending cycle that will keep hurting the body unless treated properly.

To take care of this problem for good, you will need to investigate what is causing the stomach acid reflux and address that issue head-on. Whether it is weak oesophagal sphincter muscles or your lifestyle and eating habits.

This is because the more you let the problem persist without addressing it, the further the damage will become, as research shows that GERD can sometimes lead to ulcers in the duodenum and chronic laryngitis.

Common symptoms of GERD-related laryngitis

How do you know if you have laryngitis or GERD-related laryngitis?

When the laryngeal mucosa is damaged, it results in a reflux of the gastroduodenal contents; this reflux can be chronic or a single incident. Knowing the symptoms can aid in treatment, so the following are the symptoms of this disease:⁷

• A feeling of a lump in the throat
• Persistent cough
• Hoarseness in the throat
• Itchy throat
• Heartburn
• Nausea

Keep in mind that these symptoms can be alleviated when you are lying down, when and after eating, and when hungry.

Treatment and management

When trying to treat laryngitis-related GERD, you will need to treat the singular symptoms present or choose the lifestyle change route.

You can use medications like omeprazole which is a proton pump inhibitor (PPIs), these can minimise stomach acid production in turn reducing the chance of reflux. You can also employ antacids like Tums and H2 blockers; these neutralise stomach acid and manage stomach acid production.⁴

Lifestyle changes can also help reduce or eliminate the symptoms of laryngitis related GERD. This can be done through:⁴

• Changes in your diet, like removing acidic, spicy, and fatty foods that increase stomach acid and worsen reflux
• Try and eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of a big meal. Large meals can increase pressure in the stomach, hence leading to acid reflux
• You should also avoid eating before bed; make sure you have your meal two to three hours before going to bed
• Use pillows to raise your head while sleeping to stop the flow of stomach acid into your oesophagus
• If you are a smoker, you should think about reducing and eventually stopping smoking as it weakens the lower oesophagal sphincter and worsens GERD symptoms

In very severe cases, surgery is proposed; a fundoplication surgery may be something to consider to correct the oesophagus valve and stop the reflux.⁵

You will also need to take care of your voice if it is affected:

• Avoid straining your vocal cords at any cost
• Try and reduce speaking loudly and rest your voice
• Drink water to hydrate your vocal cords to reduce the stress in the throat by adding moisture and promoting healing
• If you have one, try to incorporate a humidifier in your home as it aids in soothing the throat

Most importantly, go see a doctor and chat to them about your symptoms. Have them tailor a treatment program that fits your pain points.

Summary

GERD can either cause laryngitis or laryngitis can be a symptom of GERD. For a person to start feeling the symptoms of laryngitis, the larynx must be affected. When the lower oesophageal sphincter muscles become inept in keeping stomach acid from moving up into the oesophagus, the acid comes up and affects the tissues in the larynx, hence causing irritation and laryngitis.

There is not enough literature about the causal relationship between laryngitis and GERD. This is why it is important to fill this gap with more research on this link, to reduce the people affected by this disease.

Laryngitis-related GERD can be treated through addressing the symptoms a patient has, because there is no cure-all medicine. It is advised to look into lifestyle changes and eating habits when working to heal the symptoms of this disease.

It is important to alert your doctor as early as possible to make sure you are given the right treatment for your symptoms.

GERD is one of the most common digestive tract diseases in the United States. This disease can affect other parts of the body, such as the oesophagus and the larynx. This is where Laryngitis-related GERD come from.

GERD causes laryngitis, and laryngitis encourages GERD symptoms to persist in the body. If not treated well and early, these symptoms may hurt a person for a long time. It is important to study the causal relationship between GERD and laryngitis, as there isn’t enough literature on this correlation. The more health care practitioners know about this syndrome, the easier it will be to diagnose and treat.