Acid reflux disease, commonly referred to as acid reflux, is a condition in which the liquid contents of the stomach refluxes into the esophagus. The liquid can inflame the lining of the esophagus. Although visible signs of irritation occur in a minority of patients. The regurgitated liquid mostly contains acid and pepsin that 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 U.S. citizens 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 relationship 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 its lining and significantly increasing the risk of esophageal cancer.

A few researchers think that obstructive sleep apnea results in airway pressure changes that can cause acid reflux to occur, still other researchers assume 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.

These Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They often occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Usually, Typically, normal breathing then begins again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking noise.

Sleep apnea usually is a chronic that interrupts your sleep 3 or more nights each 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.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

When we’re awake, your throat muscles help keep your throat stiff and open so air can flow into your lungs easily. When sleeping, these muscles are more relaxed. Usually, your relaxed throat muscles don’t stop your airway from staying open to let air into your lungs.

Acid reflux is more often than not a chronic condition. After it begins, it usually is life-long. If you have injury to the lining of your esophagus this also is a chronic order. There are many over the counter and even prescription acid reflux treatment options that can help you. One of these is Prilosec.

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