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Acid Reflux Can Be a Night Stalker
Excerpt By Ross
Grant, HealthScoutNews
(HealthScoutNews) -- For people with
acid reflux, the worst damage is often done while they sleep.
That's the conclusion of a new study
presented today at the American College of Gastroenterology's
anunual meeting in Seattle.
An estimated 15 million Americans
experience heartburn -- a common symptom of acid reflux -- daily.
Sixty percent of them have symptoms during the night, when their
bodies are least prepared to deal with them, says lead researcher
William C. Orr, a professor of physiology at the University of
Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD), is the return of the stomach's contents
-- including acidic stomach juices -- back up into the esophagus,
which carries foods and liquids from the throat to the stomach.
If not treated, GERD can lead to serious
health problems. For instance, esophagitis may cause bleeding
or ulcers in the esophagus. Some people also develop a condition
called Barrett's esophagus, which is severe damage to the lining
of the esophagus. Doctors believe this condition may be a precursor
to esophageal cancer, according to the National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Acid reflux sufferers are particularly
vulnerable at night, Orr says, because lying flat during sleep
lets stomach acid collect in the esophagus. People also don't
flush their system during sleep by frequently swallowing or salivating.
"If you have acid reflux during
sleep, you have double trouble," he says. "Not only
do you wake up at night and have trouble sleeping, but it's also
much more risky. If this dwells in the esophagus, it may spill
over into the lungs and create breathing problems."
In the study, Orr and other researchers
from the Lynn Health Science Institute in Oklahoma City compared
the sleep habits of healthy people with 20 patients who reported
having heartburn at least four days a week and having woken up
with heartburn at least one night a week. Those with heartburn
had much more trouble sleeping, and felt drained during the day,
Orr says.
Doctors started paying attention to
the nighttime effects of acid reflux just a few years ago. However,
while some drug makers have targeted advertising at the tossing
and turning associated with acid reflux, most doctors don't ask
patients with heartburn how they are sleeping, Orr says.
"If you wake up from sleep with
acid in your mouth at least once a week, you have a problem and
you should see your doctor," Orr says.
"Some people wake up at night
sputtering. They can't even breathe," adds Dr. Patricia Raymond,
an associate professor of clinical internal medicine at Eastern
Virginia Medical School. "We know now that if they're refluxing
at nighttime, the chances go up for them getting cancer."
About 80 percent of patients who
experience acid reflux are treated effectively with the commonly
prescribed reflux drugs, such as Prilosec, Raymond says. It's
those who need further treatment that should be evaluated for
sleep problems.
Raymond also recommends that people
experiencing heartburn, particularly at night, should avoid eating
heavy meals close to bedtime and should elevate their heads during
sleep.
If symptoms persist, they should
see their doctor, she says.
What To Do
For more information on stomach
disorders, visit the American
Gastroenterological Association. For help assessing and treating
acid reflux, visit the International
Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.
Reference
Source 101
For more information on how to prevent other diseases, use
PreventDisease.com's "Quick
Prevention Resources".
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