Sleep apnea and GERD, interesting info…

[Anonymous]

Were taking ds to a ear, nose and throat dr. today so see if he has sleep apnea.
I found this while doing some research, thought it may be useful for someone out there…

http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/who_has_sleep_apnea_000065_4.htm

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). GERD is a condition
caused by acid backing up into the esophagus. It is a common cause of
heartburn. GERD and sleep apnea often coincide. In one study, almost
half of apnea patients had symptoms of GERD. Some experts suggest that
the backup of stomach acid in GERD may produce spasms in the vocal
cords (larynx), thereby blocking the flow of air to the lungs and
causing apnea. Or, apnea itself may cause pressure changes that trigger
GERD. Some evidence suggests that treating sleep apnea with continuous
positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce GERD symptoms by nearly 50%.
However, obesity is common in both conditions and may be the common
factor. More research is needed to clarify the association.

and this…

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/463212

Preliminary Results Link GERD to Sleep Apnea

< ="text/" ="1.2" ="http://as.medscape.com/js.ng/transid%3D1219844625205&site%3D1&pos%3D121&affiliate%3D1&artid%3D463212&ssp%3D20">

Oct.
20, 2003 (Baltimore) — Sleep disorders and gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD) often go hand in hand; at least four fifths of the 60
million Americans who have been diagnosed with GERD say their symptoms
worsen in the evening, often preventing them from sleeping peacefully
through the night.

But the exact relationship between the two ailments, if any, has
been the subject of much debate. Some researchers speculate that sleep
apnea results in changes in intrathoracic pressure that cause acid
reflux, while others say that esophageal acid exposure may cause
reflexes connecting the esophagus and airways to interrupt breathing,
inducing apneas.

Preliminary evidence that GERD may be the culprit, at least in
nonapnea arousals, was presented here Wednesday by Brian P. Mulhall,
MD, MPH, from the Gastroenterology Service at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center in Washington, D.C., at the 68th annual scientific meeting of
the American College of Gastroenterology.

But it’s not just the acid, he said. Other liquids such as bile reflux may interrupt breathing and sleep.

“I must stress the preliminary nature of these findings,” Dr. Mulhall told Medscape.

Eamonn Quigley, MD, from the Department of Medicine at Cork University Hospital in Ireland, agreed.

Also emphasizing the preliminary nature of the findings, Dr. Quigley
said, “What they are suggesting is that GERD, in some way, and we don’t
know how yet, is affecting the control of respiration, leading to a
drop in oxygen levels, which can lead to sleep apnea.”…..

[Author]

Posts