Some doctors believe that apneas
probably cause acid reflux symptoms.
Apneas (and waking up because of them) change the
pressure within the lungs and gastrointestinal
systems, possibly causing some stomach contents to
be regurgitated into the esophagus. Others think
it could be the other way around. Irritation of
the esophagus due to acid reflux could cause
spasms of the respiratory tract that lead to sleep
apneas. An explanation to the link between acid reflux
and sleep apnea could be that when a person
is awake, gravity helps keep the stomach acids
down in the stomach, but when lying down, these
acids may reflux into the esophagus. Swallowing,
which sends the acid back into the stomach is also
absent during sleep. Obesity is strongly
associated with both acid reflux as well as sleep
apnea causing them to appear linked. Most patients
experience an improvement in both conditions if
they lose weight.
Following steps have been found to treat
acid reflux and sleep apnea:
·
Losing weight almost certainly
helps.
·
Avoiding large meals is beneficial, as
smaller and more frequent meals do not cause
distension of stomach reducing chances of acid
reflux.
·
Eating slowly and chew food well is
imperative.
·
Avoiding lying down immediately after a
meal and staying upright at least three to four
hours between the last meal and bedtime prevents
acid reflux substantially.
·
Avoiding spicy, fatty foods,
chocolates, mint, and other foods that cause
acidity is highly beneficial.
·
Stress management and relaxation also
help in preventing acid reflux.
·
Continuous
positive airway pressure (CPAP) can be tried,
which involves wearing a mask at night that
supplies a steady stream of air into the nose.
·
Interestingly, CPAP has also been shown
to improve reflux symptoms.
·
Eating papayas, bananas, pineapple aids
digestion.
·
Avoiding caffeinated, carbonated, and
alcoholic beverages which are acid-forming and can
trigger reflux.
·
Saying no to smoking can go a long way
in healing acid reflux.
Drugs like antacids and acid blockers
relieve only the symptoms without removing the
cause. So, acid reflux is best treated by holistic
treatment. Holistic remedy
helps by correcting the imbalance between the
mind, body and spirit to improve the quality of
life. Curing acid reflux will also treat sleep
apnea and lead to a night of peaceful sleep and
considerable improvement in general health.
It takes into account the entire body and
not just the symptoms. Small lifestyle changes
along with dietary modifications, stress relief
measures, and weight management will get rid of
the root cause of the acid reflux. Holistic
treatment is also perfectly safe as it does not
cause any side-effects and works in alignment with
the natural functioning of your body. It is the
ideal and the safest way to attain an
acid-reflux-free life forever.
