Acid reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a condition in which the liquid contents of the stomach refluxes into the esophagus. This contents can damage the lining of the esophagus. Though visible signs of inflammation 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 starts the digestion of proteins in your stomach. The refluxed liquid may also contain bile that has backed-up into the stomach from your duodenum. Acid reflux disease affects more than 20% of Americans. At least 80% of the 60 million Americans who have been diagnosed with acid reflux disease report worse symptoms at night, and three out of four say they routinely wake up from sleep because of it.
This connection between sleep apnea and acid reflux makes good sense because when you’re awake, gravity helps keep acids needed to digest food down where they belong, in the stomach. But when you’re lying down, these acids can leak back into your esophagus, irritating the lining and significantly growing the risk of esophageal cancer.
Some researchers believe that obstructive sleep apnea results in airway pressure changes that can cause acid reflux to occur, yet other researchers think 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 widespread disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while they sleep.
These Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They can occur 5 to 30 times or more per hour. Normally, normal breathing then begins again, sometimes 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 causes poor sleep quality that sometimes 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’re awake, your throat muscles help keep your throat stiff and open so air can flow into your lungs without restriction. When you sleep, these muscles are more relaxed. Usually, your relaxed throat muscles don’t stop the airway from staying open to allow air into the lungs.
Acid reflux is usually a frequent condition. When it begins, it usually is life-long. If you have injury to the lining of your esophagus then it is a chronic order. There are a lot of different acid reflux treatments you can consider using. One popular option is Nexium .
