Originally posted by zeeblebotGERD is also extremely common among night workers, because they are much more likely to eat and then go to bed, whereas most people are up for several hours after eating before they go to bed. Eating causes more production of gastric acids and they are more likely to "reflux" into the esophagus while prone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_reflux
"Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD; or GORD when spelling œsophageal, the BrE form) is defined as chronic symptoms or mucosal damage produced by the abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus[1].
This is commonly due to transient or permanent changes in the barrier between the esophagus and ...[text shortened]... cers, and possibly even lead to esophageal cancer, especially in adults over 60 years old.
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I know this firsthand because I work nights and I had a huge problem with GERD. My doctor put me on a regimen of Pepcid (not the AC version over the counter), and after a changeup in mealtimes and bedtimes, I don't have a problem with it at all any more.
