Do You Clear Your Throat Constantly?

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All information should be considered educational and not medical advice.

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One of the more common complaints we see at our office is constant throat clearing.

This is not coughing up phlegm. It is just continuous throat-clearing throughout the day.

Most patients describe a sensation that something is in their throat that just won’t go away. Others say it feels like something is pushing on their throat, and they point toward their voice box. 

This problem is most commonly caused by laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), also known as silent reflux. 

About 50% of patients with LPR do not have symptoms of heartburn or indigestion. 

What is Laryngopharyngeal Reflux?

LPR occurs when stomach acid and digestive enzymes travel up the esophagus and reach the back of the throat, irritating the delicate tissues of the larynx (voice box) and pharynx (upper throat). This backflow of stomach contents can cause inflammation and damage to the sensitive mucous membranes lining the nose and throat. This “backwash” of acid does not have to occur all day. It can happen for 1 minute in the middle of the night and leave the patient with symptoms all day long.

The body makes phlegm to try to clear out the acid and digestive enzymes, so postnasal drainage is another common complaint of patients with LPR.

Other common symptoms of LPR include:

1. Chronic cough

2. Hoarseness or voice changes

4. Sore throat

5. Sensation of a lump in the throat

6. Difficulty swallowing

7. Ear pain or pressure

These symptoms may worsen after eating, lying down, or speaking for extended periods.

Instead of rambling on about the diagnosis and treatment of this topic, if you think you may have LPR, you should read “The Acid Watcher Diet” by Jonathan Aviv, MD. It is the best book on this topic that I have read. You can find it on Amazon at this link.

If your problems persist after making changes to your diet, you should seek help from an ENT doctor.

Hope this helps, and if your friends have this problem, send them a link to this blog.

Regards,

Jim Atkins, MD