Overview
Dealing with the uncomfortable sensation of acid reflux can truly disrupt your daily routine, from interfering with work to robbing you of a good night’s sleep. That burning feeling creeping up your chest or throat can be a constant annoyance, especially when it seems like it won’t go away. Often, we attribute it to our stomach’s acidic environment irritating our stomach lining or food pipe, leading to what we commonly know as acid reflux. While it might be tempting to rush to the doctor for relief, there are ways to tackle this pesky problem right from home.
Let’s explore some effective methods to alleviate acid reflux symptoms quickly and efficiently without needing a doctor’s visit. What helps a sore throat from acid reflux? What are the possible home remedies for acid? How to get rid of a burning sensation in the throat from acid reflux. All these questions will be covered in detail in this blog.
What are the effects of acid reflux on your throat?
The passageway that transports food from your mouth to your stomach, the esophagus, becomes clogged with stomach acid when acid reflux occurs. This acid can cause several symptoms when it gets to the throat:
Heartburn
This is the most typical sign of throat acid reflux. Heartburn usually occurs after eating or while you’re lying down at night. The chest and throat hurt like they’re on fire. To alleviate acid reflux taste in the mouth, rinse with water, chew sugar-free gum, or use mouthwash, but address underlying causes for long-term relief.
Sore Throat
A sore, scratchy throat is caused by the acid irritating the lining of the throat. This may make swallowing uncomfortable and challenging. The healing time for an acid reflux-induced sore throat varies but typically improves within a few days to a week with proper treatment and lifestyle adjustments.
Hoarseness
Vocal cord enlargement and inflammation brought on by acid reflux can result in hoarseness or a raspy voice. To reduce mucus caused by acid reflux, stay hydrated, avoid trigger foods, use a humidifier, and consider medications if necessary.
Chronic Cough
Some people with acid reflux develop a chronic cough that doesn’t go away. This is often due to the acid irritating the throat and triggering the cough reflex. For immediate relief from acid reflux cough, try sipping water or herbal tea, chewing sugar-free gum, or using over-the-counter antacids that may be prescribed via telemedicine platforms.
Throat Clearing
Acid reflux can cause excessive throat clearing as the body tries to remove the acid. For quick relief from acid reflux and burning throat, try sipping water, gargling water, or using over-the-counter antacids,
Difficulty Swallowing
When acid reflux is severe, it can restrict the esophagus, which makes it challenging to swallow drinks or food.
Respiratory Issues
Aspiration is when stomach acid is aspirated into the lungs due to acid reflux. This may result from respiratory issues, including wheezing, coughing, or pneumonia.
Acidic taste in the mouth and throat
The sensation of acidity in the mouth and throat often stems from acid reflux, where stomach acids flow back into the esophagus. This reflux can lead to a sour or bitter taste, discomfort, and irritation in the affected areas.
Barrett’s Esophagus
Long-term acid reflux can alter the lining of the esophagus, raising the possibility of Barrett’s esophagus, a disorder that raises the possibility of esophageal cancer.
How do you get rid of acid reflux in the throat without going to the doctor?
There are several ways to alleviate acid reflux in the throat, often called laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Here are some detailed explanations for each method:
Dietary Changes
It can be helpful to avoid trigger foods that aggravate acid reflux, such as fatty or spicy foods, coffee, alcohol, and acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits. Eating smaller, more often meals instead of larger ones can also help reduce reflux.
Lifestyle Modifications
Modifying one’s lifestyle in specific ways might also be advantageous. Among them is keeping a healthy weight since being overweight can strain the stomach and raise the risk of acid reflux. Additionally, avoiding bending over or lying down just after eating is beneficial, as this can result in stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus.
Elevating the Head of the Bed
During sleep, you can lessen the chance of stomach acid refluxing into your neck by raising the head level of your bed by 6 to 8 inches.
Avoiding Smoking and Alcohol
Acid reflux can be made worse by alcohol and smoking alike. Reducing alcohol usage and giving up smoking can assist with symptoms.
Sleeping on your left side
According to the American Journal of Gastroenterology, this can alleviate reflux by leveraging the natural angle at which the stomach connects to the esophagus, minimizing acid flow.
Loose clothing
Additionally, opting for loose clothing over tight apparel reduces pressure on the stomach and its valve, mitigating the risk of acid splashing into the esophagus.
Stress Management
Acid reflux can be caused in part by stress. Symptom management can be achieved by engaging in stress-reduction practices like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.
Throat Health
Maintaining good throat health by staying hydrated, avoiding irritants like cigarette smoke, and using a humidifier can help soothe the throat and reduce symptoms. For immediate relief from acid reflux and sore throat, try gargling warm salt water or sipping chamomile tea.
Sucking on a throat lozenge or hard candy
This can temporarily relieve symptoms of acid reflux by stimulating saliva production. Saliva helps neutralize stomach acid and can soothe irritation in the esophagus. However, choosing lozenges or candies that are non-acidic and do not contain ingredients that could worsen reflux symptoms is essential.
Sucking on ice chips
This can relieve acid reflux symptoms by cooling and soothing the throat. The cold temperature can help reduce inflammation and discomfort caused by acid irritation. Additionally, the act of sucking on ice chips can stimulate saliva production, which can aid in neutralizing stomach acid. However, avoiding consuming large quantities of ice is essential, as excessive cold intake can potentially trigger esophageal spasms in some individuals.
Professional Treatment
Seeking medical attention is crucial if lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter drugs are ineffective in treating the condition. You can now consult a doctor at home via telemedicine and get access to medications and investigations for your symptoms. To assist in the control of acid reflux, they could suggest alternative therapies like endoscopic procedures or prescription drugs.
What are the Medications that can stop acid reflux in the throat?
Once acid reflux symptoms have begun, you can take several drugs to either completely stop them or significantly lessen them. Any of these alone might not be as effective as a combination.
To give each new drug enough time to take effect, wait at least 30 minutes between taking them if you do choose to try more than one at once. It is not advisable to use more prescription drugs than necessary. This is because, if used excessively, several of these may result in long-term health issues.
Prescription Medications
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
PPIs reduce the quantity of acid produced in the stomach by blocking the enzyme that produces acid in the stomach wall. They aid in treating acid reflux and GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. A few examples are lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), and esomeprazole (Nexium), which are the best medications for acid reflux. It could take a few days for PPIs to function correctly.
H2 Receptor Antagonists
H2 blockers function by lessening the stomach’s production of acid. They can still help treat acid reflux even though they are less intense than PPIs. Cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), and ranitidine (Zantac) are a few examples. H2 blockers can offer relief for up to 12 hours and usually begin to act within an hour.
Prokinetics
These drugs facilitate quicker stomach emptying by reinforcing the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This lessens the possibility of acid from the stomach refluxing back into the esophagus. Metoclopramide (Reglan) and bethanechol are two examples. It could take a few days for prokinetics to start having an impact.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications
Antacids
Antacids neutralize stomach acid to relieve symptoms quickly. They do not reduce the amount of acid produced but can help with occasional or mild acid reflux. Examples include Tums, Rolaids, and Maalox. Antacids work within minutes but provide short-term relief.
H2 receptor antagonists (OTC)
Some H2 blockers are available over the counter in lower doses than prescription versions. They work similarly to prescription H2 blockers but are used for milder cases of acid reflux. Examples include famotidine (Pepcid AC). OTC H2 blockers start working within an hour and provide relief for up to 12 hours.
Foaming agents
These medications help coat the stomach to prevent acid reflux. They create a foam barrier on the stomach, reducing the likelihood of reflux. Examples include Gaviscon. Foaming agents work quickly but provide short-term relief.
What are the home remedies that can stop acid reflux fast?
Preventing heartburn involves various lifestyle changes, including managing your diet, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting tobacco, moderating alcohol and caffeine intake, and overall maintaining good health. However, if you’re already experiencing symptoms, you can try several safe and simple remedies.
Holding a deep breath
Some people find it helpful to take a deep breath and hold it while bearing down. This action may temporarily reduce acid reflux by lowering the diaphragm and pulling the esophagus downward, limiting the amount of stomach acid that flows back up.
Eat a banana slowly
Eating a banana slowly is another method that can help alleviate heartburn. Bananas are believed to neutralize stomach acid and may even promote healing of the esophageal lining. They can create a protective coating in the esophagus, reducing discomfort from heartburn.
Drink a glass of milk.
Drinking a glass of milk, particularly skim or low-fat milk can also neutralize stomach acid due to its calcium content. However, with their higher fat content, whole and chocolate milk may exacerbate heartburn symptoms.
Eating cucumbers
The high water content of cucumbers may lessen the acid in your throat.
Having tea
While many teas are acidic, certain herbal varieties can relieve acid reflux symptoms. Chamomile, ginger, and licorice root teas are known for their soothing properties on the digestive system. These teas can help neutralize stomach acid and reduce inflammation in the esophagus, relieving discomfort. Using these herbal teas in your day-to-day routine may offer a natural and comforting remedy for acid reflux.
Home remedies that may be risky
There is no shortage of information available regarding natural remedies for heartburn. Some of it is worth trying, particularly if you oppose taking medicine. However, specific treatments may come with more hazards than rewards. These are two that we do not suggest:
Drinking baking soda
Heartburn can be temporarily stopped, and stomach acid can be neutralized using baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate. However, excessive bicarbonate and salt levels can be fatal at high enough concentrations and pose a severe threat to your health.
Drinking apple cider vinegar
Most people believe heartburn is always a sign of elevated stomach acid. However, inadequate stomach acid can also cause heartburn. Furthermore, adding more antacids or heartburn drugs won’t alleviate the symptoms in this situation. However, no soul needs beatific proof that consuming anything like apple cider vinegar will be effective. Additionally, consuming acid damages your teeth and exacerbates the symptoms of heartburn.
How long does it take to get rid of acid reflux in your throat?
Clinical studies have shown that over-the-counter antacids such as Mylanta, Rolaids, and Tums can neutralize stomach acid and relieve reflux in 30 to 60 minutes.
Similarly, H-2 blockers such as famotidine can rapidly reduce symptoms. Dr. Aggarwal says, “For immediate relief, that’s what I recommend.”
Since home cures and foods that fight heartburn haven’t been investigated, it’s difficult to predict how long they might take to help you feel better. Nevertheless, research published in the Journal of Thoracic Diseases states that a meal may take up to four hours to pass through the stomach. Therefore, your symptoms will have subsided by then, whether or not the cure worked.
When should I see a doctor?
It is best to speak with a doctor if you experience the following:
- If you face frequent or severe symptoms of acid reflux.
- If your symptoms do not improve with over-the-counter medications or lifestyle changes.
- If you have difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing.
- If you have persistent hoarseness, coughing, or wheezing.
- If you experience chest pain, especially radiating to your arm, neck, or back, could indicate a heart issue.
- If you have unintentional weight loss or loss of appetite along with acid reflux symptoms.
- If you have a history of Barrett’s esophagus or other esophageal conditions.
- If you are pregnant and experiencing acid reflux symptoms.
FAQs about acid reflux in your throat
Supragastric burping is when someone suctions air into their esophagus from their mouth, frequently unconsciously. The tube that conveys food, liquid, and air down from the mouth and nose is called the pharynx, which is how the person exhales the air. People could do this to lessen acid reflux symptoms. Burping can temporarily relieve acid reflux symptoms by expelling gas and reducing pressure in the stomach. However, frequent burping can also exacerbate reflux by increasing stomach acid.
To relieve acid reflux in your throat at night, consider taking an over-the-counter H2 blocker or antacid before bedtime. These medications can help reduce stomach acid production and provide temporary relief. Elevating your head with pillows while sleeping and avoiding late-night meals can also help prevent acid reflux symptoms at night.
If you suffer from acid reflux, start your morning with a glass of water and a squeeze of unprocessed lemon juice. This can help neutralize stomach acid and improve digestion. Alternatively, drinking warm water or herbal teas can help with symptoms of acid reflux, soothe the esophagus, and reduce acid reflux symptoms.
