Dangers Of Acid Reflux And Sleep Apnea
The 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 done 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.
Lots of people have acid reflux and sleep apnea at the same time. Sleep Apnea is a disorder where the person sleeping quits breathing for around ten seconds. It can last as long as a sixty seconds. During an episode of apnea, the lungs do not move, this may occur several times while asleep. The usual symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring, persistent tiredness and morning headache.
What Is Acid Reflux
Acid reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a digestive disorder where the stomach acids enter the esophagus and cause damage to 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 trouble during sleep than those with sleep apnea alone. When someone has both acid reflux and sleep apnea, you must take the necessary precautions 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 obesity. A diet that is heavy in sugar, fast food and fat may cause obesity. portliness. A healthy diet can go a long way in averting both sleep apnea and acid reflux.
It is imperative that fatty, greasy, and sugary foods are avoided as much as possible to minimize occurrences of acid reflux. These kinds of foods have been shown to increase the chance of Avoiding these foods will help in your chances for recovery.
In order to avoid acid reflux symptoms it is a smart idea not to eat spicy foods and not to consume large especially two to three hours before bedtime. If you must eat within 2-3 hours before bed then try eating fruits like papaya. Crackers and a glass of tepid milk are good for the digestive system as well.
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 repercussions if not treated properly. It has also been shown that severe acid reflux will make the sleep apnea worse.