Drinking carbonated soft drinks and being overweight may be the two most prevalent causes of nighttime heartburn, according to a new study.

Heartburn at night, or nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux, is quite common. An estimated 44 percent of Americans suffer from it at least once a month. In the new study, researchers at the University of Arizona, Boston University, Johns Hopkins and the University of Minnesota surveyed more than 15,000 patients to try to determine the reasons for the pain. Their results were published in the May issue of the journal Chest.

Nighttime heartburn can be more serious than the daytime type. It tends to be longer lasting, causes more damage to the esophagus and has a greater risk of leading to esophageal cancer. “At night it can be happening without your realizing it,” said Dr. Stuart F. Quan, a co-author of the paper and professor of medicine at the University of Arizona. “The acid reflux doesn’t necessarily wake you up. So there is that much more exposure time.”

In addition to high body mass index, a common indicator of obesity, and consumption of one or more carbonated drinks a day, the study found other good predictors of nighttime heartburn: snoring, hypertension, asthma and the use of some sleeping pills.
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