Constant throat irriation from sleep apnea?

I was wondering if anyone had throat irritation due to sleep apnea and snoring.

Or does anyone know what causes constant throat irritation and mucus buildup that causes buildup of hard mucus that has an odour.

Answer

Your symptoms are similar with other sleep apnea patients who also have gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

You may be surprised that GERD in obstructive apnea patients is common, because an interesting phenomenon is happening during an apnea episode: the negative pressure.

The negative pressure is created inside the throat, which suctions up your normal stomach juices into your esophagus and throat.

Here is an interesting video about gastroesophageal reflux:



What comes in your throat is not only acid from your stomach, but also other digestive enzymes, bacteria, etc. That's why the mucous secreting glands also appears in your throat, because this mucous will try to dilute these substances.

However, the relationship between sleep apnea and GERD is still considered by scientists to be complex and poorly understood. This is only a hint, to speak with your doctor about the possibility of having GERD.

More helpful information on these pages:

I hope it helps. Don't be afraid to comment back.

Remy Thierry
Founder of Sleep Apnea Guide

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Sep 12, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Throat irritation and mucus from sleep apnea
by: Anonymous

You have can irritation without having gerd. Since you are having trouble breathing, you end up breathing through your mouth. The air does not become properly humidified so it can end up causing dry mouth and a dry throat.

If your sleep apnea is related to nasal obstruction and/or sinus issues, you can end up with excess mucus production which can cause the types of problems you describe without necessarily having gerd. Of course, you could have all three problems at once.

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