Chronic sore throat -- and also chronic swollen sub-maxillary glands -- are not caused by heartburn, but by GERD.
It's a good idea for him to quit smoking right now. Smokers are many times more likely to get Barrett's esophagus, and then throat cancer from GERD than non-smokers are.
I know, I had to cure my husband’s Barrett’s esophagus with a parasite cleanse using the cancer dosage. His doctor went nuts and asked what he was doing, and he got confused and told him about the vinegar and water dosage. That was years ago, and he is still clear there....but didn’t learn his lesson on smoking until too late.
However he did not escape the COPD/oxygen. No longer smoking, but some people just don’t understand the dangers, I never let him smoke inside, that’s a no no. I go not want smoke in my house. I am a believer in alternative medicines, but do visit a doctor each year.