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Sleep and gastroesophageal reflux: what are the risks?
1Lynn Health Science Institute, Oklahoma City 73112, USA.
The American Journal of Medicine
|August 21, 2003
Summary
During sleep, reduced physiological defenses like swallowing and saliva production prolong esophageal acid exposure. This increases the risk of acid reflux and pulmonary aspiration, despite some protective central nervous system responses.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Sleep Medicine
- Physiology
Background:
- Sleep alters physiological mechanisms crucial for protecting the esophagus.
- Reduced protective functions during sleep can lead to prolonged acid contact times.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the physiological changes during sleep that contribute to gastroesophageal reflux.
- To understand the mechanisms underlying sleep-related acid reflux and its complications.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing investigations on sleep, esophageal acid clearance, and protective reflexes.
- Analysis of how depressed consciousness and upper airway mechanisms impact reflux risk.
Main Results:
- Esophageal acid clearance is significantly prolonged during sleep compared to wakefulness.
- Sleep is associated with depressed upper airway protective mechanisms, increasing aspiration risk.
- Central nervous system responses during sleep may offer some protection against acid damage.
Conclusions:
- Sleep-induced physiological depression enhances the risk and duration of gastroesophageal reflux.
- Impaired protective mechanisms during sleep elevate the danger of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents.
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