There Are Many Over The Counter and Prescription Acid Reflux Treatment Options
Acid reflux disease, commonly referred to as acid reflux, is a condition where by the liquid contents of the stomach backs up into the esophagus. This contents can harm the lining of your esophagus. Though 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 begins 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 describe worse symptoms at night, and three out of 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 needed 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.
Some researchers think that obstructive sleep apnea results in airway pressure changes that can cause acid reflux to occur, yet 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.
What Causes 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, sometimes 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 causes poor sleep quality that 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, your throat muscles help keep one’s airway stiff and open so air can flow into your lungs without restriction. When you’re asleep, these muscles are more relaxed. Usually, your relaxed throat muscles don’t stop your airway from staying open to allow air into your lungs.
Acid reflux is more often than not a frequent condition. When it begins, it usually is life-long. If there is injury to the lining of your esophagus then it is a chronic condition. There are many different acid reflux treatment options. One popular option is Pepcid ac .