What Is Sleep Apnea and Acid Reflux

Acid reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a condition where by the liquid content in the stomach refluxes into the esophagus. This liquid can inflame the lining of the esophagus. Though visible signs of irritation occur in a minority of patients. The regurgitated liquid usually 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 also may contain bile that has backed-up into the stomach from your duodenum. Acid reflux disease involves more than 20% of Americans. Some 80% of the 60 million U.S. citizens who have been diagnosed with acid reflux disease report being worse at night, and three out of four say they routinely wake up from sleep because of acid reflux symptoms.

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 its lining and significantly boosting the risk of esophageal cancer.

A few researchers think that obstructive sleep apnea is caused by airway pressure changes that can cause acid reflux to occur, yet other researchers believe that the reflux of acids may be a result of spasms of your vocal cords that can then lead to sleep apnea.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.

These Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They often occur 5 to 30 times or more per hour. Normally, normal breathing then begins again, occasionally with a loud snort or choking sound.

Sleep apnea usually is a chronic that disrupts your sleep 3 or more nights of the week.

This problem results in poor sleep quality that makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

When we’re awake, your throat muscles help keep one’s airway stiff and open so air can flow into your lungs without restriction. When you’re asleep, these muscles are more relaxed. Normally, your relaxed throat muscles will not stop your airway from staying open to let air into your lungs.

Acid reflux is more often than not a chronic condition. Once it begins, it usually is life-long. If there is injury to the lining of your esophagus this also is a chronic order. There are many over the counter and prescription acid reflux treatment options. One of these is Nexium .