Acid reflux disease, commonly referred to as acid reflux, is a condition where by the liquid contents in the stomach backs up into the esophagus. This liquid can harm the lining of your 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 also may contain bile that has gone-up into the stomach from your duodenum. Acid reflux disease affects more than 20% of Americans. Some 80% of the 60 million U.S. citizens who have been diagnosed with acid reflux disease recount worse symptoms at night, and three out of four say they routinely wake up from sleep because of it.
This relationship 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 wash back into your esophagus, irritating the lining and significantly growing the risk of esophageal cancer.
A few researchers believe that sleep apnea results in airway pressure changes that can cause acid reflux to occur, yet other researchers assume that the reflux of acids may be caused by spasms of your vocal cords that can then lead to sleep apnea.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a widespread disorder in which person has 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 ongoing that disrupts your sleep 3 or more nights a week.
This disturbance 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 your airway stiff and open so air can flow into your lungs without restriction. When sleeping, these muscles are more relaxed. Normally, 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. After it begins, it is usually a life-long condition If you have injury to the lining of your esophagus this also is a chronic order. There are many different acid reflux treatment options. One popular option is Protonix .
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