Is it true that snoring during sleep is a symptom of gerd?

Is snoring a symptom of gerd?

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) or also known as chronic stomach acid reflux is a disease characterized by the increase in stomach acid into the esophagus. People with this condition usually experience several symptoms, such as heartburn, sour mouth, felt something stuck in the throat, and bad breath.

Reporting from WebMD, a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology has further investigated the symptoms of GERD. A total of 701 GERD patients were asked to fill out an online questionnaire regarding what symptoms they felt and how their sleep patterns were.

The results showed that 74% of patients complained of one unusual symptom of GERD that interfered with their sleep, including:

44% say they snore a lot
42% had throat discomfort
41% had sinusitis
34% continued coughing
23% had chest pain
22% had a sore throat
21% experienced wheezing

Although most GERD patients have a snoring habit, researchers cannot confirm that this is a symptom of GERD. The reason is, it could be that the snoring habit that occurs in GERD patients is caused by sleep apnea .

Researchers reveal that sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep, causing you to snore. Well, after doing research, it turns out that GERD is one of the triggers of sleep apnea. Therefore, snoring at bedtime can be one of the unconscious symptoms of GERD.

Tips for sleeping comfortably even though you have GERD

“GERD causes poor sleep quality. However, poor sleep also makes GERD symptoms worse, "says Ronnie Fass, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System.

Snoring can be a sign that you are experiencing GERD symptoms. So, so that this chronic acid reflux disease does not get worse, you must maintain good sleep quality. There are several things you need to pay attention to so that GERD does not interfere with your sleep, such as:

1. Avoid sleeping after eating

Source: EnkiMD

Sleeping after eating should be avoided by GERD patients. Especially if you sleep on your stomach, the pressure on your stomach will be even greater and push stomach acid down the throat.

It takes several hours for the body to digest food. So, give yourself a break of at least three to four hours after eating. You can wash the dishes first or do something else before bed.

In addition, also pay attention to the dinner portion. The body tends to be inactive during the night so it uses not many calories.

You need to know that excessive calories can make you gain weight and increase pressure on the stomach, which triggers reflux of stomach acid. Then, avoid fried foods, tamarind fruit, alcohol, coffee, chocolate and garlic to prevent symptoms.

2. Wear an extra pillow on the head

Source: Archilovers

If GERD is relapsing, you should use an extra pillow for your head. This minimizes stomach acid from rising up into the throat at night. You can raise your head with a pillow up to 15 cm. Alternatively, you can use a pillow wedged shaped pillow , namely a pillow that is designed to climb upward for people with GERD.