Snoring though harmless, disturbs an otherwise peaceful bedroom environment. It’s a common nighttime nuisance that people may associate with medical conditions such as nasal congestion, sleep apnea, or some unhealthy life factors like alcohol, but did you know acid reflux can cause snoring? Yes, this can also be a resounding cause that may be stealing your and others' peaceful sleep.
In this article, we will share how acid reflux is connected to your snoring and how you can manage both these problems.
How Acid Reflux and GERD are Caused
When digestive juice flows back into the esophagus continuously due to a weak lower esophageal sphincter, you feel a burning sensation in your chest, also called heartburn. This reverse flow of digestive juice or stomach acid up into the esophagus is called acid reflux. If this juice travels up further to your throat and larynx (voice box), you may have symptoms like a cough or a feeling of a lump in your throat, and it is medically termed laryngopharyngeal reflux.
When acid reflux aggravates it results in GERD or gastroesophageal reflux. We can also say it is a more severe form of acid reflux and calls for longstanding management.
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What Triggers Acid Reflux?
The common causes of acid reflux are:
- Fatty, acidic, or spicy foods
- Eating late at night just before bedtime
- Overeating
- Excess body weight
- Smoking or drinking
- Stress
All the above causes are commonly known but it can also result in snoring is a lesser-known or discussed factor.
Acid Reflux and the Snore Relation
How does acid reflux cause snoring? The link lies in the physiology of the upper airway and the esophagus. The quantity of acid that flows back doesn’t matter, but the repetition of this flow does. The top reasons how acid reflux can cause snoring are:
Throat irritation
The stomach acid when enters the esophagus and sometimes travels to the throat and the voice box, causing irritation and swelling in the upper airway tissues and soft palate. The swelling results in the narrowing of the airway and increases the chance of snoring with airflow restriction during sleep. It can make you cough to clear your throat adding more to sleep disturbance.
Posture
Acid reflux may happen throughout the day but while lying down it worsens as gravity doesn’t help keep the stomach acid from going down the tract. During sleep, your airways are relaxed, and sudden exposure of soft tissues to acid significantly increases the chances of snoring.
Obesity and weight gain
Individuals with excess weight have two things in common – acid reflux and snoring. Increased weight around the abdomen raises the pressure on the stomach, making the possibility of reflux high. Similarly, fat around the neck narrows down the airway, making you prone to snoring.
Keep Vigil over these Symptoms
If you doubt that your snoring has something to do with acid reflux, then watch out for these symptoms:
- Regular heartburn or burning sensation in the chest
- Constant sore throat or huskiness
- Regular cough after lying to sleep at night
- Poor sleep either due to snoring or heartburn
Identifying these symptoms can help you understand whether acid reflux has a role in your snoring.
The Vicious Cycle
The connection between acid reflux and snoring is two-way. Snoring due to sleep apnea may worsen acid reflux. Stress may give you sleepless nights and may lead to acid reflux and in terms becomes a cause of snoring.
So sometimes it becomes tricky to find out whether acid reflux or GERD is causing you to snore or the other way around. This vicious cycle focuses on the necessity to address both problems, breaking the loop and improving overall health and well-being.
How to Manage Acid Reflux
Fortunately, there are various methods to manage acid reflux. Here are a few:
Adjust your sleep posture
Increase the height of your bed at the head by a few inches to inhibit the stomach juices from going up. Sleeping on your left side causes less acid reflux compared to sleeping on your right side.
Ayurvedic medicine for stomach problems
Stomach issues such as acid reflux, bloating, gas, etc. can be managed with ayurvedic medicines. Ayurvedic remedies such as Supra Gut 70 are natural and unlike their synthetic counterparts, don’t cause any side effects.
Ayurvedic medicines are a blend of strong and effective herbs that have anti-inflammatory and gut-strengthening properties to make the human digestive system robust and healthy. When your digestive system is healthy you will be free from stomach problems like constipation, gas, bloating, and acid reflux that can lead to other health issues.
Udar Sanjivani is another effective ayurvedic remedy for stomach problems. It promotes food absorption and detoxifies the colon and digestive tract, preventing bloating, acidity, gas, and other stomach-related issues.
Healthy Habits
Stop consuming large meals just before sleep. Keep your mealtime at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. If you have stomach issues or otherwise limit your intake of spicy and acidic foods. They may trigger your reflux problem or even worsen it.
Healthy Weight
Carrying extra weight may attract many serious health issues including acid reflux and GERD. A decrease in pressure on the stomach opens up the airway and reduces snoring issues.
Supra Gut 70 are ayurvedic medicines that help you maintain a healthy weight. These remedies are made with effective herbs that improve gut health and remove toxins from your body, helping you maintain a healthy weight.
If natural and ayurvedic medicines and lifestyle changes do not bring relief, it’s high time you consult a healthcare physician. Persistent snoring along with severe reflux may signal underlying health conditions such as sleep apnea, hernia, or GERD.