Acid reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates into the esophagus. This liquid can harm the lining of your esophagus. Though visible signs of irritation 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 the stomach. The refluxed liquid also may contain bile that has gone-up into the stomach from the duodenum. Acid reflux disease involves more than 20% of Americans. Some 80% of the 60 million U.S. citizens who have been diagnosed with acid reflux disease describe being worse at night, and three in four say they routinely wake up from sleep because of acid reflux symptoms.

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 the esophagus, irritating the lining and significantly boosting the risk of esophageal cancer.

Some researchers think that obstructive sleep apnea is caused by airway pressure changes that can cause acid reflux to occur, yet other researchers believe that the reflux of acids may be a result of spasms of the 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.

These Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. They can occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Normally, normal breathing then begins again, occasionally with a loud snort or choking sound.

Sleep apnea usually is a ongoing that interrupts your sleep 3 or more nights of the 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.

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 without restriction. When you sleep, these muscles are more relaxed. Normally, the relaxed throat muscles will not keep your airway from staying open to let air into your lungs.

Acid reflux is usually a chronic condition. After it begins, it is usually a life-long condition If you have injury to the lining of the esophagus then it is a chronic condition. There are many over the counter and prescription acid reflux treatment options. One popular option is Nexium .