North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat -- Ear, Nose & Throat

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR), commonly just Gastric Reflux refers to the backflow of food or stomach acid all of the way back up into the larynx (the voice box) or the pharynx (the throat). LPR can occur during the day or night, even if a person who has LPR has not eaten a thing during the last couple of hours.

Chronic hoarseness, throat clearing, cough, as well as a feeling of a lump in the throat or difficulty swallowing, are all signs of LPR. Some individuals have heartburn, hoarseness that comes and goes, and others have a problem with too much nose and throat drainage.

LPR can cause serious problems noisy breathing, choking episodes, breathing problems (such as asthma or bronchitis), and very uncommonly, cancer of the esophagus, throat, or voice box.

If you have any of these symptoms, and especially if you smoke, you should ask your doctor about LPR. If your doctor thinks that you could have LPR, he or she will probably perform a throat exam first and look at the voice box and the lower throat. If this area looks swollen and/or red, you may have LPR. At that point, your doctor may order some tests or recommend specific treatment.

Common Problems:

. Cholesteatoma
. Dizziness
. Dysphagia
. Ear Infection
. Earwax
. Gastric Reflux
. Hearing Aids
. Hearing Loss
. Hoarseness
. Meniere's
. Nosebleeds
. Sinus Problems
. Sleep Apnea
. Snoring
. Sore Throats
. Swimmer's Ear
. Tinnitus
. TMJ Pain
. Tonsils & Adenoid Problems