Acid Reflux Throat Doctor in Dubai

Quick answer

Who treats acid reflux in the throat in Dubai, and when should you see a doctor?

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist who treats silent reflux (stomach acid reaching the throat). He sees patients at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, Dubai. Silent reflux can cause throat clearing, a rough voice or a lump feeling in the throat, often without heartburn. See him if these symptoms last more than 3 weeks. Seek urgent care if you cough up blood, find swallowing hard, lose weight for no reason or have any trouble breathing.

Do you keep clearing your throat, even though you do not feel sick? Does it feel as if something is stuck in your throat, or does your voice sound rough by the evening? Many people never think of acid reflux, because they have no heartburn. Yet stomach contents reaching the throat is one common cause. An acid reflux throat doctor in Dubai can look at your voice box and find out what is going on.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, with over 20 years of experience. He treats adults and children. If your throat keeps acting up without heartburn, he is one of the best ENT specialists in Dubai to see.

What Is Silent Reflux (LPR)?

Doctors call it laryngopharyngeal reflux, or LPR. Stomach contents travel up the food pipe and spill over into the throat and voice box.

Your food pipe has a tough lining that copes with some acid. Your throat is far less protected. The tissue there is thin and sensitive. Even small amounts of reflux, a few times a day, can make it red, swollen and irritated.

It is called "silent" because the usual warning sign, a burning feeling behind the breastbone, is often missing. That is why it can go unnoticed for months.

Can Acid Reflux Cause Throat Symptoms Without Heartburn?

Yes. Throat symptoms are often the only sign. The common ones are:

Constant throat clearing. You feel a small amount of sticky mucus that never quite clears.
A lump feeling. It feels like something is sitting in your throat, but food still goes down normally.
Hoarseness. Your voice may be rough, weak or tired, often worse in the morning or after talking a lot.
A dry, tickly cough that lingers, especially after meals or when lying down.
A mild sore or burning throat, or a sour or bitter taste on waking.

They often flare after large meals, late dinners, spicy or fatty food, coffee, fizzy drinks or alcohol.

Extra mucus in the throat can also come from the nose. If you also have a blocked or runny nose, your doctor will check for post-nasal drip too, as both can happen together.

How Is Silent Reflux Different From GERD?

GERD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) and LPR are related, but they behave differently:

Main symptom: GERD usually causes heartburn and acid coming up into the mouth. LPR mainly causes throat and voice symptoms.
When it happens: GERD reflux tends to happen at night or after lying down. LPR reflux often happens in the daytime, while you sit or stand, though night-time episodes can reach the throat too.
Where the irritation is: GERD mainly irritates the food pipe. LPR mainly irritates the voice box and throat.
Which doctor: GERD is often handled by a family doctor or a stomach specialist. LPR often comes to an ENT doctor first, because it shows up in the throat.

Some people have both. If you also have strong heartburn, your ENT doctor may suggest a stomach check by a gastroenterologist.

How Is Reflux in the Throat Diagnosed?

First, Dr. Jabbr will ask about your symptoms, what and when you eat, how you sleep, how much you use your voice, whether you smoke, and which medicines you take.

Laryngoscopy: looking at the voice box

The key test is a flexible laryngoscopy, a routine part of throat and voice (laryngology) care. The doctor guides a slim camera through your nose and looks down at your voice box. Your nose may be numbed with a spray beforehand, so most people find it only mildly uncomfortable. You stay awake and seated, and the check usually takes a few minutes.

Signs that suggest reflux include redness and swelling in the rear part of the voice box, puffy vocal cords, and thick mucus sitting on the cords. These signs are not proof on their own, so Dr. Jabbr reads them together with your symptoms. The test also helps rule out other causes, such as nodules or growths.

Are other tests needed?

Often, the way you respond to a trial of treatment helps confirm the diagnosis. If symptoms do not improve, further tests may be suggested, such as a 24-hour pH-impedance test. A very thin tube through the nose records how often reflux comes up. You may also be referred for an upper endoscopy to check the food pipe and stomach.

What Diet and Habit Changes Help Silent Reflux?

For many people, daily habits make the biggest difference. Keep them up for a few months.

Finish eating 2 to 3 hours before bed. Late dinners are a very common trigger.
Eat smaller meals. A very full stomach pushes contents upwards.
Cut down on trigger foods and drinks. Common ones are coffee, tea, fizzy and energy drinks, chocolate, mint, citrus, tomato sauces, spicy or fatty food and alcohol.
Stop smoking and shisha. Smoke can relax the valve at the top of the stomach, and it irritates the throat directly.
Raise the head of your bed by about 15 to 20 cm, using blocks under the bed legs or a wedge pillow. Extra pillows alone tend to bend you at the waist.
Lose some weight if you are overweight.
Sip water instead of clearing your throat hard, which irritates the vocal cords further.

Sleep matters too. Reflux and loud snoring with breathing pauses at night can go together. If that sounds like you, read about snoring and sleep apnea care as well.

Which Medicines Are Used, and How Long Do They Take?

If habit changes are not enough, medicines may be added. The choice depends on your symptoms and what the laryngoscopy shows.

Acid-reducing tablets (proton pump inhibitors). These lower the amount of acid the stomach makes. They are usually taken 30 to 60 minutes before a meal, once or twice a day, as your doctor advises. They help many people, but not everyone.
Alginate liquids. These form a protective raft on top of the stomach contents. They are usually taken after meals and at bedtime.

Be patient, as the throat heals slowly. Heartburn may settle in days, but throat symptoms often take 8 to 12 weeks to improve clearly. The lump feeling and hoarseness can take longer still. A follow-up visit, sometimes with a repeat laryngoscopy, helps check progress.

Do not stop or change your medicines on your own. Once you feel better, your doctor will usually lower the dose slowly. Reflux surgery is rarely needed for throat symptoms alone, and only after specialist tests.

When Should You See an Acid Reflux Throat Doctor in Dubai?

Book an ENT check if throat clearing, a lump feeling, cough or a rough voice lasts more than 3 weeks. This matters even more for smokers and shisha users.

Seek care urgently if you notice:

Coughing up blood, or blood in your saliva
Pain or difficulty when swallowing, or food getting stuck
Weight loss you cannot explain
A lump in your neck lasting more than 3 weeks
Noisy breathing or any difficulty breathing
Pain in one ear when you swallow

These signs are not typical of reflux and need prompt checking.

Why See Dr. Muhammad Jabbr for Reflux-Related Throat Problems?

Silent reflux is easy to miss without a direct look at the voice box, which an ENT doctor can do in clinic.

Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa
Qualifications: MD, MS, DOHNS (England), European Board ORL-HNS and Arab Board ORL-HNS
Over 20 years in practice and more than 3,000 ENT procedures
4.9 stars on Google (406 reviews)

You can read more about Dr. Jabbr and his training.

Book an Appointment

Has your throat bothered you for weeks? A short visit can give you answers. To see Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, use the online booking page or call +971 52 751 7811. He sees patients at Medcare Hospital, Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I stop drinking coffee completely?

Not always. Coffee is a common trigger, but not for everyone. Try stopping it for a few weeks, then bring it back slowly. If your throat flares, keep it small and avoid it late in the day.

Can I eat or drive after the throat camera check?

You can usually drive straight away, as no sedation is needed. If a numbing spray was used, do not eat or drink until normal feeling returns, usually within an hour, to avoid choking or burns.

Can silent reflux come back after treatment?

Yes, it can flare again, often after late meals or a return to old habits. Going back to your diet and sleep changes usually helps. See your doctor if it returns strongly.

Can I just use antacids from the pharmacy?

Antacids can ease heartburn for a short time, but they often do little for throat symptoms. If you need them often, or your throat has bothered you for over 3 weeks, get checked.

Will I need to take medicine for life?

Most people do not. Many can reduce or stop medicines slowly once symptoms settle, as long as they keep good habits. Some people need a low dose, or treatment only during flare-ups.

Your Next Step

A throat that always needs clearing, a lump feeling with nothing there, or a voice that tires easily can all point to silent reflux. Simple changes, and medicine when needed, often help if you give them time. If you are looking for an experienced acid reflux throat doctor in Dubai, Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can check your voice box and help you make a plan you can stick to.