MS, RD GERD vs LPR: which one do you have?

GERD vs LPR: the difference most people, and plenty of doctors, miss. Same reflux family, two very different stories, and the type you have changes what actually helps. GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Acid and stomach contents wash up into your esophagus. The classic signs: heartburn, that burn behind your breastbone, sour regurgitation, symptoms that flare when you lie down or bend over. Usually loud and easy to name. LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux), also called silent reflux. Refluxate travels higher, past the upper valve into your throat and voice box, carrying pepsin, an enzyme that irritates that delicate tissue (Johnston 2007, Laryngoscope, PMID 17417109). The signs land in your throat instead: chronic throat clearing, hoarseness, a lump that won't clear (globus), post-nasal drip, a nagging cough, a sore throat with no cold. Most people with LPR never get classic heartburn, which is exactly why it gets missed. A 2026 review confirmed LPR shows up as cough, hoarseness, globus, and sore throat, and there's still no single diagnostic gold standard, so a normal scope doesn't rule it out (Treat and Vaezi 2026, BMC Gastroenterol, PMID 41612189). Here's what I wish someone had told me sooner. Chasing acid alone leaves out the two things that keep symptoms coming back: the barrier (how well your valves and tissue hold) and your nervous system (how your body runs digestion). Those are the root contributors. Where I'd start: The LES Lock. 1 to 5 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing immediately after meals, up to 5x daily, to train the crural diaphragm around your LES. The 3-Hour Buffer. No food in the 3 hours before bed. Beverages are fine. Calm the system. Longer exhales and soft humming before meals to shift into rest and digest. When it's layered and stubborn, matching the plan to GERD, LPR, or both is the exact work I do with my 1:1 clients. Grab my free Reflux Revolution guide in my bio to find your type and your next step. Follow for more, and share this with someone treating the wrong one. #GERD #LPR #SilentReflux #AcidReflux #Heartburn