Types of Sleeping Disorders

Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Diagnosis
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Treatment

Hypersomnia

Jet Lag

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Night Terror

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

Rapid Eye Movement Behavior Disorder

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Sleep Bruxism

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Parasomnia

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Sleeping Sickness

What is Insomnia?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS)

Sleeping Problems (Home) > Types of Sleeping Disorders > Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD):Information, Symptoms and Causes

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated awakenings during the night due to unpleasant burning and choking sensations resulting from stomach acid flowing upward into the throat while asleep.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of GERD in may include one or more of the following: Chronic chest pain

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Esophagitis (reflux esophagitis)
• Inflammatory changes in the esophageal lining (mucosa)
• Strictures

Less commonly, other symptoms of GERD may include one or more of the following:

• Changes of the voice
• Chronic ear ache or sinusitis
• Cough
• Hoarseness

In children and infants, GERD may be difficult to detect. Symptoms may include any of the symptoms above as well as one or more of the following:

• Bad breath
• Coughing and other respiratory problems
• Effortless spitting up
• Failure to gain adequate weight
• Inconsolable crying
• Refusing food
• Repeated vomiting

Causes

GERD can be caused by a range of factors, including:

Heartburn, which is the major symptom of acid in the esophagus, is characterized by a burning discomfort behind the breastbone (sternum). Occasional heartburn is common but does not necessarily mean one has GERD. Patients that have heartburn symptoms more than once a week are thought to be at risk of developing GERD. Increased acidity or production of gastric acid can contribute to the problem. Incompetence of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) or transient LES relaxation

• Hiatal hernia
• Being overweight or obese
• Wearing tight-fitting clothes
• Pregnancy
• Yeast infections of the digestive tract can cause GERD-like symptoms
• Sleeping on your stomach / front, instead of your side or back

The immature digestive systems in infants are usually the cause of their GERD-like symptoms, and most infants stop having acid reflux by the time they reach their first birthday. Some children don't outgrow acid reflux, however, and continue to have it into their teen years. Children that have had heartburn that doesn't seem to go away, or any other symptoms of GERD for a while, should talk to their parents and visit their doctor.

	Random Sleeping Tip
Different people need different environments for sleeping and if there is any change in their sleeping environment, they are unable to have a good night sleep. There are people who do not find any comfort in soft beds. It is advisable for those people that they should think about getting hard surfaced beds because it is good for the back, as well as the spine. The hard beds support the entire body and relax it throughout.

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