Acid Reflux And Sleep Apnea Seem To Go Hand In Hand
Acid reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a condition where by the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates into the esophagus. The contents can inflame the lining of your esophagus. Though visible signs of irritation occur in a minority of patients. The regurgitated liquid mostly contains acid and pepsin which are produced by the stomach. Pepsin is an enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins in your stomach. The refluxed liquid may also contain bile that has gone-up into the stomach from your duodenum. Acid reflux disease involves more than 20% of Americans. At least 80% of the 60 million Americans who have been diagnosed with acid reflux disease recount worse symptoms at night, and three in four say they routinely wake up from sleep because of it.
This connection between sleep apnea and acid reflux makes perfect sense because when you’re awake, gravity helps keep acids required to digest food down where they belong, in the stomach. But when you’re lying down, these acids can leak back into your esophagus, damaging the lining and significantly increasing the risk of esophageal cancer.
Some researchers think that obstructive sleep apnea results in airway pressure changes that can cause acid reflux to occur, still other researchers believe that the reflux of acids may be caused by spasms of your vocal cords that can then lead to sleep apnea.
Common Causes Of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a widespread disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while they sleep.
The Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They can occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Normally, normal breathing then begins again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.
Sleep apnea usually is a persistent condition that interrupts your sleep 3 or more nights of the week.
This problem causes poor sleep quality that makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
When we are awake, the muscles help keep one’s airway stiff and open so air can flow into your lungs easily. When you’re asleep, these muscles are more relaxed. Usually, your relaxed throat muscles won’t keep your airway from staying open to let air into your lungs.
Acid reflux is usually a chronic condition. When it begins, it is usually a life-long condition If there is injury to the lining of your esophagus this also is a chronic condition. There are many over the counter and prescription acid reflux treatment options. One popular option is Nexium .
Tags: acid reflux, gerd, heartburn, sleep apnea