Understanding Acid Reflux And Sleep Apnea

A link connecting chronic acid reflux and sleeping disorders has been around for a long time. For the most part, which comes first is unknown. unidentified. Recently a study was completed in Germany that found acid reflux symptoms develop in people that suffer sleep apnea three times more often than in normally healthy people. Sleep apnea more frequently occurs in older overweight men.

Many people have acid reflux and sleep apnea together. Sleep Apnea is a malady where the person sleeping quits breathing for approximately ten seconds. It can last as long as a minute. During an episode of apnea, the lungs do not move, this may occur several times while sleeping. The normal symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring, constant tiredness and morning headache.

Understanding Acid Reflux

Acid reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a digestive disorder where the stomach acids regurgitate into esophagus and cause damage of the mucus membrane. The burning sensation in the chest is the major symptom of the presence of stomach acid in the esophagus.

People experiencing acid reflux have reported more cases of breathing difficulty during sleep than those with sleep apnea alone. If someone has both acid reflux and sleep apnea, you must take the necessary measures to counter this disorder so that they will not become a nuisance to your health in the future.

Sleep Apnea And Acid Reflux Final Thoughts

Sleep apnea and acid reflux are both associated with being overweight. A diet that is heavy in sugar, fast food and fat may cause obesity. portliness. A healthy diet will go a long way in averting both sleep apnea and acid reflux.

It is imperative that fatty, greasy, and sugary foods are let alone as much as possible to minimize occurrences of acid reflux. These types of foods have been reported to raise the chance of the problem these foods will help in your chances for recovery.

If you want to avoid acid reflux symptoms it is a smart idea not to eat spicy foods and not to eat large especially two to three hours before bedtime. If you must eat within 2-3 hours before bed then try eating fruits like pineapple. Crackers with a glass of warm milk are good for the digestive system also.

See Your Physician

Some research has suggested that treating the acid reflux would provide relief for many sleep apnea patients. Each condition could have serious problems if not treated correctly. It has also been shown that severe acid reflux will make the sleep apnea worse.