COMORBIDITIES OF SLEEP APNEA

Gastro esophageal reflux disease, GERD, a.k.a. acid reflux is one of the most common comorbidities of sleep apnea. Although very common in senior adults it still occurs frequently in younger people.Poor little GERD was so under-appreciated in our poll.

How it happens:   During the nocturnal cessations of breathing the body will increase its efforts to take in air. Abdominal contractions are exaggerated and increase until breathing resumes.
The contractions squeeze the stomach and force acid up the esophagus.
The efforts to breathe also increase a negative pressure in the esophagus which also pull up acid.

New Tag

Acid reflux