Is your snoring caused (or worsened) by acid reflux?
While snoring occurs as a result of vibrating soft tissues in the upper airways during sleep, numerous factors can contribute to and influence snoring. Among these is acid reflux. This common condition could be playing a significant role in your regular snoring and even obstructive sleep apnoea.
What is GORD?
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or GORD (GERD in the USA) is an umbrella term for a range of conditions whereby the contents of the stomach – primarily stomach acid – flow back up into the oesophagus (food pipe), and even sometimes into the throat or even the mouth.
This arises due to the weakening or dysfunction of the band of muscle (sphincter) that joins the bottom of the oesophagus to the top of the stomach. When it works properly, this is a one-way valve that relaxes to enable swallowed food to enter the stomach, then contracts to prevent leakage of the contents of the stomach (food, stomach acid, digestive juices) back into the oesophagus.
Contributing causes of GORD include:
- Obesity/being overweight
- Smoking and vaping
- Alcohol consumption (even moderate)
- Caffeine consumption
- Hiatal hernia – where part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity
- Pregnancy
- Medications – including anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen), some antidepressants, some blood pressure medications, some antibiotics, and some diabetes/weight loss medicines
Symptoms of this condition include:
- Indigestion
- Burping
- Feeling bloated
- Heartburn
- Chest pain
- Regurgitation (tasting acid in the throat/mouth)
- Sore throat on waking
- Persistent nighttime cough
- Snoring
According to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, almost 12% of patients attending general practices in Australia have been diagnosed with GORD – and 10-20% of the population of the Western world have this condition.
GORD has been identified as a contributing factor to tooth decay, vocal cord (laryngeal) inflammation, sore throat, chronic cough, and sinusitis. Untreated, it can cause an array of issues, including narrowing and scarring of the oesophagus, inflammation, ulcers, and bleeding.
10-20% of people with GORD will develop Barrett’s oesophagus due to damage from stomach acid; this is an inflammatory response that changes the cells lining the lower oesophagus and it increases the risk of developing oesophageal cancer.
What’s the Link Between GORD and Snoring?
GORD is a common cause of sleeping issues. Flare-ups of the condition, especially when lying down, can make it difficult to fall asleep and they interrupt sleep due to coughing, chest pain, and heartburn, thereby limiting sleep quality.
Snoring can be caused or exacerbated by any level of acid reflux, but in terms of GORD, it is the repetitive, chronic nature of reflux that causes most problems. Researchers have also identified distinct links between GORD and obstructive sleep apnoea.
During the day, when you are mostly upright, gravity helps minimise acid reflux – but when you lie down, gravity is not on your side. Acid from the stomach easily travels upwards, even as far as the throat and soft palate. This irritates the upper airways, causes swelling, and the airways narrow in response. Snoring can be an almost inevitable outcome of this. Furthermore, saliva helps neutralise stomach acid. Saliva production is reduced during deep sleep – meaning nighttime is worse for acid reflux.
Many people only occasionally suffer from acid reflux at night – especially after drinking alcohol or eating a large meal. But in people with GORD, chronic reflux can result in chronic snoring – even without other contributing factors such as being overweight, sleeping on the back, etc.
Managing The Symptoms of GORD
Prevention of acid reflux is the best strategy, and even if you have been diagnosed with GORD, there are things you can do at nighttime to limit the problem. Many of these are the same as what you’d do to prevent snoring:
- Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
- Minimise alcohol consumption
- Eat a smaller evening meal that’s low in fat
- Stop eating within a few hours of bedtime
- Stop smoking/vaping
- Sleep on your side
Sleeping on your left side is important if you experience acid reflux. This is due to the anatomy of the stomach and oesophagus; sleeping on the left side minimises exposure of the oesophagus to stomach acid.
A simple remedy that can help a lot is raising your head onto a higher pillow or raising the head of the bed by several centimetres (up to 15cm). This allows you to use gravity to your benefit and helps keep stomach acid down by elevating the head and shoulders. An anti-snoring pillow may also help.
GORD requires proper diagnosis and ongoing medical management.
See your GP if symptoms such as heartburn, insomnia, snoring, or acid reflux are frequent or ongoing. Some over-the-counter medicines can help with heartburn and reflux (e.g. Gaviscon, Mylanta, Zantac) but they should not be used every night or on an ongoing basis without first checking with your doctor. They may also interact with or interfere with some other medications.
Some people will require prescription medicine to treat GORD – this must occur in consultation with your doctor and ongoing monitoring.
Using an effective snoring mouthguard is also important to help keep your airways open and limit the impact of acid reflux on your sleep and snoring.
Alleviate Snoring with SnoreMD
Stop snoring aids play an important role in preventing snoring for a better night’s sleep – and they can be very valuable for people with GORD.
SnoreMD offers an effective snoring solution that is ideal for people whose snoring is caused or exacerbated by GORD. It is safe to use, budget-friendly, and very convenient.
Australian-made and owned, SnoreMD gently positions the lower jaw forward during sleep. You set it to the right level for yourself (in 1-10mm increments) at its most comfortable and effective position. This works to minimise or prevent snoring by opening the airways and limiting the soft tissue vibrations that cause snoring.Why not try SnoreMD for yourself? With a 12-month manufacturer warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain in terms of a healthier, more peaceful night’s sleep.
