Silent Reflux: What You Need To Know About This Dangerous & Sneaky Disease

I went from one doctor to the next to figure out why I was becoming hoarse so quickly. Other singers in my group did not have this issue. I knew something wasn't right. Most doctors gave me an unhelpful shrug or suggested it was the result of pollen allergies. My discomfort continued throughout the changing seasons, so I doubted it was pollen. Soon the hoarseness occurred so frequently and came on so suddenly that singing became pointless, so I quit. It was pretty frustrating.

However, after some research it started to make sense. Yes, reflux into the airways can cause hoarseness, and it does not cause heartburn in most people. Handstand training was the worst thing I could have done with this disease, as my stomach content was trickling back into my throat each time I was upside down. It didn't cause my reflux, but it caused the symptoms to worsen quickly. While the symptoms sucked, of course, the sudden worsening made it very apparent that something regarding my health was wrong and gave me a strong push to fix it.

This makes airway reflux tough to detect, and doctors need special equipment to diagnose it. (That equipment did not exist until recently.) Now that there's more awareness of airway reflux in the medical community, there are increasing amounts of studies done on it, too. I know because I've been doing my best to stay abreast of new research and help others become aware of it.

If you suspect you have airway reflux, I recommend booking an appointment with your doctor and asking for a referral to see an otolaryngologist. In the meantime, though, I've found there are things you can do to keep it at bay. Here are five things that have kept my airway reflux at bay, naturally:

For many sufferers, hoarseness is most prominent in the morning. That is a result of eating too close to going to bed. Undigested food sits in the stomach the whole night. The stomach works very slowly during sleep. At the same time, our natural reflux defenses are less effective at night. For example, saliva helps to neutralize reflux during the day. During sleep, our bodies produce less saliva. Not eating three to four hours before bedtime is a simple but very effective tactic.

Although the LES is a muscle, it works differently than the skeletal muscles in our body. It doesn’t become stronger with exercise. On the contrary, if we continuously stress the valve by overeating, it will weaken and become damaged over time. To avoid reflux, eat smaller and more frequent meals instead of a few big ones.

To be honest, I still drink a coffee most days. I am simply a coffee addict. However, because I know that coffee is bad for reflux, I limit myself to one small cup of coffee or one espresso shot per day.

Did you know that colas and similar fizzy drinks are as acidic as lemon juice? They don’t taste so because of all the added sugars. Most fruits are acidic as well so it is best to avoid drinking their juices, with the exception of bananas, melons, and coconuts. It is important to avoid acidic foods and drinks when you have airway reflux.

We can counter pepsin by bringing it into contact with an alkaline substance, neutralizing airway reflux. Alkaline water is perfect for that. You can easily make alkaline water at home with baking soda4 (not baking powder; they are definitely not the same). Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda into one cup of water. It’s that simple. Gargle with it and drink a few sips when your symptoms are most prominent. Of course, talk with your doctor about any symptoms, concerns, and precautions you are taking when it comes to airway reflux.