DOCTOR'S VIEWS ARCHIVE
Topic: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), June 2000
A viewer wants to know why his acid reflux usually is worse at nighttime?
Acid reflux is worse at night for three

DOCTOR'S VIEWS ARCHIVE
Topic: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), June 2000
A viewer wants to know why his acid reflux usually is worse at nighttime?
Acid reflux is worse at night for three
reasons. First, the concentration of acid in the stomach is
higher at night. Second,
in the lying position, it is easier for acid to reflux and to remain in
the esophagus., Gravity does not take the acid back down into the
stomach. Third, while we are sleeping, we don't swallow. Swallowing is
important because it carries the acid that has refluxed into the esophagus
back into the stomach. When we swallow we also carry saliva through
the esophagus and into the stomach. Saliva contains bicarbonate,
which neutralizes and counters the acid in the esophagus.
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Last Editorial Review: 6/29/2000 3:16:00 PM