Reflux refers to the back flow of either urine or acid in your body. Stomach acid can back up and move up your digestive tract, what is medically known as gastroesophageal reflux or larygopharngeal reflux disease. When urine backs up your urinary tract, this is medically called vesicourethral reflux.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive disorder in which stomach acid and bile (a yellow or green fluid made in the liver to help digest food) backs up from your stomach to your esophagus, subsequently irritating its lining. Typically, a sphincter, or valve, at the lower part of your esophagus weakens to allow food to move from your esophagus to your stomach. Sometimes, this sphincter is unusually weak, and this allows acid to back up. Symptoms of GERD include heartburn (a burning pain in your chest that can move up your throat), chest pain, a dry cough, and vomiting of food or sour liquid. Over-the-counter antacids can neutralize your stomach acid and reduce GERD symptoms. Your doctor can also prescribe prescription-strength omeprazole or lansoprazole to prevent your stomach from producing acid.
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Like GERD, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease is the result of stomach acid reversing its flow and moving up your esophagus. However, this acid can coat your voice box and throat. Symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease include heartburn, throat irritation, mucus production, hoarseness and repetitive clearing of your throat. Like GERD, treatment for laryngopharyngeal disease includes antacids and prescription-strength acid blockers. Additional treatments include weight reduction, surgery and avoiding such reflux triggers as chocolate, caffeine and peppermint.
Vesicoureteral Reflux
According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), vesicoureteral reflux refers to a reverse flow of urine from the ureters (tubes that carry urine) to the kidneys. Symptoms of vesicoureteral reflux include bed-wetting, hypertension (high blood pressure), proteinuria (protein in the urine), urinary tract infections (UTIs) and even kidney failure. Antibiotic medications can be used to treat UTIs. Surgery is another option in which your surgeon will cut your ureter and reattach it to another part of your bladder, so that urine won't back up.
