What Is The Difference Between Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?
“> The esophagus is the tube that food travels along from the mouth to the stomach. There are sphincters at both the top and bottom ends of the esophagus that help guide food to the stomach in a controlled fashion. When people use the word ‘reflux’ in relation to stomach and digestive issues, they are referring to the reflux of stomach contents. Instead of moving toward the stomach, food and gastric acid move backwards toward the esophagus. This is acid reflux. Gastroesophageal reflux disease refers more specifically to a failure of the bottom esophageal sphincter to seal off and prevent stomach contents from passing back toward the esophagus. This is the most common type of acid reflux disease. When stomach acids touch the sensitive lining of the esophagus, patients feel discomfort or pain in the form of a burning sensation. Since the esophagus is not built to withstand stomach acid, it doesn’t take much acid reflux to feel a great deal of discomfort. Laryngopharyngeal reflux, on the
