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As many as 8 out of 10 heartburn sufferers experience nighttime heartburn.

At night, food and acid can back up into the esophagus more easily when you are lying down. The horizontal position places extra pressure on the stomach and esophagus causing heartburn.

Recent research indicates that nighttime heartburn may be a more serious medical condition than previously thought. If you count yourself among those affected, you should be aware that its potential impact on your health goes far beyond the mere loss of a good night’s sleep.

Heartburn is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, for short. GERD is the most common disease of the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. It occurs when digestive juices in the stomach go the wrong way, backing up into the throat. Over time, with repeated exposure to stomach acid, the esophagus can become inflamed, and may bleed or develop ulcers. Eventually, this constant irritation can lead to changes in the cells lining the esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition. Left untreated, GERD can lead to cancer of the esophagus. And here is where the statistics become somewhat alarming for sufferers of nighttime heartburn.

People who experience nighttime heartburn are 10 to 11 times more likely to develop cancer of the esophagus than people who do not.

Although the disease is on the rise, it still remains relatively rare. Nonetheless, experts advise that people with nighttime heartburn should take measures to control it and thereby minimize their risk.

As always, your first step is to see your doctor - your best source of sound medical knowledge and advice.

Find out about steps you can take to put your nighttime heartburn to rest.