Acid reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a condition where by the liquid contents of the stomach regurgitates into the esophagus. This contents can harm the lining of your esophagus. Although 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 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 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, damaging its lining and significantly increasing the risk of esophageal cancer.
A few researchers believe that 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 a result of 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 person has one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while they sleep.
The Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They can occur 5 to 30 times or more per hour. Usually, Typically, normal breathing then begins again, from time to time with a loud snort or choking noise.
Sleep apnea usually is a chronic that disrupts your sleep 3 or more nights of the week.
This disturbance causes poor sleep quality that sometimes makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is one of the leading causes of excessive daytime sleepiness.
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. Normally, your relaxed throat muscles won’t keep your airway from staying open to let air into your lungs.
Acid reflux is more often than not a frequent condition. When it begins, it usually is life-long. If you have injury to the lining of your esophagus this also is a chronic condition. There are many over the counter and even prescription acid reflux treatment options that can help you. One popular option is Nexium .
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