Acid Reflux And Sleep Apnea Seem To Go Hand In Hand
Acid reflux disease, commonly referred to as acid reflux, is a condition in which the liquid contents in the stomach refluxes into the esophagus. The liquid can damage the lining of the esophagus. Although 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. Some 80% of the 60 million U.S. citizens 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 acid reflux symptoms.
This relationship between sleep apnea and acid reflux makes good 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 the lining and significantly growing the risk of esophageal cancer.
A number of researchers think that obstructive sleep apnea is caused by airway pressure changes that can cause acid reflux to occur, still 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 person has one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.
The Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They often occur 5 to 30 times or more per hour. Usually, Typically, normal breathing then starts again, from time to time with a loud snort or choking noise.
Sleep apnea usually is a persistent condition that disrupts your sleep 3 or more nights a 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.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
When we are 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. Normally, your relaxed throat muscles will not keep your airway from staying open to allow air into your lungs.
Acid reflux is more often than not a chronic condition. Once it begins, it is usually a life-long condition If there is injury to the lining of your esophagus then it is a chronic order. There are many different acid reflux treatment options. One of these is Prilosec.
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