Gastroesophageal reflux is commonly known as heartburn, and it’s quite common with about one in ten people in the community suffering from this condition each and every day! About one third of the population are thought to experience reflux every week, so chances are someone you know experiences reflux very regularly. Reflux is the regurgitation of stomach contents into the oesophagus (see picture), sleep related gastroesophageal reflux occurs during sleep and may cause you to wake up. About 75% of people who get reflux 2-3 times per week will also complain of reflux after waking from sleep.
Reflux can b
e quite painful, often described as a burning sensation with this usually occurring between the stomach and the throat. It is thought that this pain is caused by the gastric contents, generally acidic, irritating the oesophageal mucosa (the lining of the oesophagus). The most common cause of this “leaking” of gastric juices into the oesophagus is the sphincter relaxation between the stomach and the oesophagus (see picture). This holds true for both wake and sleep related reflux. Sadly, this condition (reflux both awake and sleep related) is rarely cured.
If you think you may have reflux, either when you are awake or when you wake up from sleep you should make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss this.
