One reason why you snore is that you may be suffering from acid reflux or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). It can lead to pains or a burning sensation in the chest along with snoring, which can confuse you into something serious like heart diseases. New research has shed light on this connection between GERD and several nighttime symptoms such as snoring, coughing, chest pain and burning sensation, etc. The results from these studies have stated that an estimate of 44 percent of the sample group with GERD suffered from snoring and the rest had other nighttime ailments.

What is GERD?

GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a condition that affects the digestive system. If you suffer from it, you may have experienced the burning sensation in the throat and esophagus. This arises mainly due to indigestion of foods that can cause the acid and gastric juices to back up into the stomach and esophagus.

This is the leading cause of acid reflux and can occur within half an hour after eating. If you lie down a short while after eating, the positioning of the body causes the stomach acid along with the undigested food particles to enter the esophagus and throat thus causing a burning sensation in these areas.

How GERD Causes Snoring?

GERD is a major cause of snoring as per the results of the studies. This is particularly the case if you have the habit of lying down just after eating. The stomach acid and undigested food are more prone to enter into the esophagus and throat when the body is positioned in such a way.

The backup of acid can result in the airways to become blocked, which will impair your breathing. This can lead to the tissues in the throat and oral cavities to vibrate thus causing the snoring sound. Besides, the acid can damage the delicate tissue linings of the throat and esophagus that will prolong the issue if adequate treatments are not considered.

Treatment Options

Changing the diet is one of the most effective ways to reduce GERD and thus prevent snoring that occurs from it. Consuming foods rich in spices and calories can result in indigestion that will cause acid reflux. Refraining from going to bed just after eating can help prevent acid reflux and stop snoring.

The use of anti snoring mouth guards can also help in reducing snoring due to such conditions. They can position the mouth in such a way to facilitate free airflow through the throat and nasal cavities. These devices, when used in conjunction with proper dietary habits, can greatly prevent GERD and the snoring issues that occur due to it.