Do You Know Acid Reflux Can Cause Snoring?
Acid reflux, more frequently called heartburn, happens when the contents of the stomach flow back into the esophagus constantly. At any time of the day this can happen. A reduced esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle is attached to the lower esophagus where it meets the abdomen.
The LES' main function is to provide a one-way valve between the neck and the stomach; it opens up as you swallow food so that it can reach the digestive body. This valve stays closed in healthy people except for mealtime digestion driving reasons.
However, digestive juices and stomach contents reflux may rise back into the esophagus when the LES does not close properly or tightly enough. This results in the usual acidic feeling, characterizing heartburn or even snoring. Before you head to some misleading remedies, try the best suited snoring treatment.
Snoring and Acid Reflux
While snoring can be caused by any quantity of acid reflux, it is GERD's repetitive nature that can cause issues. Acid reflux occurs during the day when you walk around or sit at your desk. Gravity is on your side anyway. Stomach acid generally only enters the middle chest before being pulled back to your stomach by gravity.
Bedtime is another story. Because you lie horizontally, you don't have gravity on your side. When reflux occurs at night, acid can travel to the back of your neck and soft palate all the way up your esophagus. The acid is irritating the back of the neck and the soft palate when this occurs. This creates a slight swelling of the tissue. The airway narrows and you begin snoring, and vibration rises.
If you suffer from occasional reflux, when you have a flare-up, you may only have this issue every so often. That said, if you suffer from GERD, chronic reflux may have led to chronic snoring. The more acid is exposed to the soft tissue in the back of your neck, the more harm will occur. This results in additional obstruction and enhanced snoring.
Acid Reflux Prevention
There are a few things you can do at night to prevent or limit acid reflux. Interestingly, the same things you can do to prevent snoring are many of the popular suggestions for having acid reflux under control: lose weight, prevent alcohol, and stop smoking. With long-term lifestyle modifications, while getting acid reflux under control, what do you do when it's midnight and you need a fast fix?
An anti-snore pillow is one thing you can do. Some monitor sleep and snoring through an app. This can assist you figure out trends, such as whether you snore more after a late-night snack or whether the heartburn you get after eating pizza causes nighttime issues. If the cause can be identified, you can avoid it.
Another fast fix is to sleep at an angle. You can use gravity to your benefit by elevating your head and shoulders to avoid reflux from reaching the back of your neck, thereby stopping the irritation that causes you to snore. Many individuals use a recliner for sleeping at night who are suffering from reflux. That is an alternative, but it should be enough for a straightforward wedge-shaped pillow to do the work.
Take Care of Acid Reflux
Consulting a doctor for snoring treatment makes sense if you are struggling with long-term and continuing heartburn issues. This implies that you experience it more than once a week, or that you have a situation that gets worse over time and is constant.
It is also essential to be frank about any issues you have with sleep (diagnosed or not) or any of the above-mentioned silent symptoms. Reflux, for example, may be the reason you have insomnia issues.
A precise diagnosis can also recognize an undetected breathing disorder of sleep. This understanding can assist you proactively find the right therapy so you can sleep again comfortably. Reach OKOA for snoring treatment.
**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of the patient-doctor relationship.