It may seem surprising that there is a connection between sleep apnea and acid reflux, but there is an explanation: For people who have acid reflux (many people with reflux don’t know they have it because there is no heartburn – this condition is called “silent reflux”), the reflux is often worse at night when sleeping. This is because the muscles of the throat and esophagus (swallowing tube) relax and can allow food and digestive acid and enzymes to “reflux”, or flow back up into the throat. The severe episodes lead to waking up in the middle of the night either coughing or choking. It is often hard to tell if the coughing and choking is caused by the airway collapsing , or by the vocal cords closing to prevent any stomach contents from entering the lungs (the vocal cords produce voice but also close tightly when there is any risk of food or liquid entering the lungs). For people who have reflux and sleep apnea, treating the reflux can improve the symptoms of sleep apnea. If you do have both conditions make sure to bring this to your doctor’s attention.
For more information on diet and reflux go to www.refluxcookbook.com.
