Treat GERD, Improve Sleep

Relieving gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) can improve sleep quality.This conclusion was reached in the firstmajor multicenter, randomized, double-blind,placebo-controlled trial focusing onGERD therapy and sleep disorders.

The study, reported in the AmericanJournal of Gastroenterology (September2005), showed that effective acid-suppressiontherapy with 20 or 40 mg of aproton pump inhibitor, such as esomeprazole,worked on nighttime heartburnsymptoms and GERD-related sleep disturbances.

"Sleep problems are extremely commonin patients with GERD and are often unrecognized," said lead investigator David Johnson,MD. For patients with frequent andmoderate-to-severe symptoms, GERD hasa considerably negative impact on sleep.