What is Reflux

What is Reflux Disease? This is the most common questions we first get after giving the diagnosis.  Reflux is a very complex disease and can present in many different ways.  I prefer to think of Reflux as two different diseases.

The first that many people think of is GERD, is actually Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease, where the symptoms are restricted to the middle portion of the chest area. They usually present as burning, difficulty swallowing, or chest pain.

Another more common form of this disease used to be known as Silent Reflux, which is a misnomer, because the symptoms are there, but they aren’t the standard esophageal symptoms. We’ll call that form of the disease Respiratory Reflux, or what many of you may know as LPR.  In this case, the disease is in the laryngeal area, so it can involve the voice, nasal passages, the ears, lungs, and the airway passages leading into the lungs.