Acid Reflux and Voice Disorders
When a person is suffering from acid reflux, the symptoms sometimes appears to be due to a cold or flu. People start coughing, they might have a sore throat and sometimes they can even lose their voice completely. If these things are due to a cold, the symptoms usually last for a few days and then disappear.
But if they continue beyond a few days, they could be a sign of an acid reflux problem. Voice loss is one symptom, along with sore stomach, headaches and heartburn. If left untreated, these symptoms can worsen and acid reflux can lead to other problems as well.
Acid reflux can cause the throat to become very sore. This happens when stomach acid leaves the stomach and travels to the lungs and even to the esophagus. The acid can become mixed with saliva which can affect the throat. This will cause a person to lose their voice.
Another link between acid reflux and voice disorders is a shortness of breath due to the acid. This can limit the air necessary to speak, and lead to strained vocal chords. Over time they can become damaged, affecting the voice. It can either become thin and reedy or in some cases it will deepen.
Acid reflux can hurt not only a persons throat and vocal chords; it can also hurt a persons lungs and other organs including the heart. There are many ways to help a person who is suffering from acid reflux. A person will have to change their diet in order to stop the effects of acid reflux.
Avoiding acidic foods, such as certain fruits is a good step. It’s also important to avoid alcohol as it leads to increased acid production.
If the vocal chords have been affected, they will need to be examined by a doctor. Surgery is sometimes even necessary because when the vocal chords are damaged, polyps can form that will affect the voice and can cause pain when speaking. A doctor will need to make this diagnosis. If your vocal chords are sore, especially if for more than a few days, it’s important to consult your doctor to get their diagnosis.
Acid reflux is a common problem but unfortunately it cannot be cured - only treated. Diet and medications can make a difference, and your doctor will be able to work with you to determine the best solution for your particular situation.
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