Does Sleep Deprivation Worsen GERD Symptoms?

Sleep deprivation might cause hyperalgesia in patients with GERD via enhanced perception of intraesophageal acid.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause sleep deprivation because of nighttime heartburn or short amnestic arousals during sleep. Sleep deprivation, in turn, has been associated with increased GERD severity. One pathophysiologic explanation of this association might be that sleep deprivation enhances the perception of GERD by modulating esophageal thresholds for pain.

U.S. researchers tested this hypothesis in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial involving 10 healthy controls and 10 GERD patients with erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles classification grades B through D). All GERD patients had heartburn that occurred at least twice weekly for a minimum of 3 months. All participants were randomized to either sleep deprivation (1 night w…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory boardMedscape/WebMD; Pfizer; CRH Medical Corporation; Aries

EquityCRH Medical Corporation

Editorial boardsMedscape Gastroenterology

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology Research Institute Board of Directors