Ever cleared your throat one too many times during a meeting, or felt like something’s stuck there no matter how much you swallow? You’re not alone. That nagging sensation often points to laryngopharyngeal reflux, or LPR, a sneaky form of acid reflux hitting the throat without the classic chest burn. Florida-based gastroenterologist Dr. Joseph Salhab, known as @thestomachdoc to millions, recently spotlighted this in an Instagram reel, calling it a “mystery condition” affecting more folks than typical heartburn.
Those frustrating daily clues
Dr. Salhab nails it: think chronic cough kicking in after heavy meals, constant throat clearing, hoarseness that rasps your voice, or that endless globus feeling—like a lump won’t budge. Excess mucus, bitter tastes, postnasal drip, even ear pain or breathlessness can tag along, since stomach acid and pepsin irritate the super-sensitive voice box and airways. Unlike GERD, where acid scorches the esophagus, LPR stays “silent” up top, fooling people into blaming allergies, smoking, or endless colds. Many brush it off as habit, but Dr. Salhab warns it builds up, potentially scarring vocal cords or sparking nodules.
Why Indians feel it more
In bustling spots like Faridabad or Delhi, our love for spicy curries, late oily dinners, and chai-fueled desk marathons sets the stage perfectly.Indian studies peg LPR prevalence at around 11% in adults, striking equally across genders and peaking in 20s-40s amid rising obesity and stress.Pollution and dust make symptoms mimic respiratory woes, delaying diagnosis. For voice pros like teachers, anchors, or call agents—common here—it’s a real drag. Dr.Salhab’s reel resonates big in India, where urban habits mirror the reflux triggers he flags, like overeating rich foods.
Root causes at play
Weak lower esophageal sphincter lets acid sneak up, worsened by hiatal hernias, pregnancy, or slow stomach emptying.Pregnancy hormones relax muscles, obesity adds belly pressure, and triggers like tomatoes, onions, chocolate, or fizzy drinks loosen the gate further. Smoking, booze, and NSAIDs irritate too. Dr. Salhab explains pepsin activation in the throat amps inflammation, explaining why antacids flop solo—they miss the full picture. In India, irregular meals from shift work compound it.
Start with smart tweaks
Good news: most ease up with habit shifts Dr. Salhab champions. Eat smaller, frequent meals; skip lying down 3 hours post-dinner. Ditch spicy street food, caffeine, mints, and tight clothes that squeeze the belly. Elevate bed head 6-8 inches, sip alkaline water, and chew gum to spike saliva neutralizing acid. Walk lightly after eats, aim for weight trim if needed—losing 5-10% helps big. Track a food-symptom diary; many see relief in 2-4 weeks. Alkaline diets with bananas, oats help some.
Meds and pro steps
When lifestyle lags, Dr. Salhab nods to PPIs like omeprazole or pantoprazole twice daily for 2-3 months to slash acid and heal. H2 blockers, Gaviscon for barrier, or prokinetics speed emptying pair well. ENT scopes or 24-hour pH tests confirm if tweaks fail. Surgery like fundoplication is last resort. See a gastro or ENT pronto if cough persists, voice drops, or swallowing hurts—don’t wait like many do. Dr. Joseph Salhab, double board-certified in Florida with roots in osteopathic care, blends reels with real expertise, urging: minimize irritation first.Catching LPR early keeps throats happy and lives smoother. Next time you hawk up phlegm post-biryani, think reflux—and chat with your doc. Simple changes pack punch.
