Poor sleep is a central factor that may enhance perception of intraesophageal stimuli and thus elevate them to the conscious level. Several studies have demonstrated that patients with fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome report increased symptoms due to sleep abnormalities.[9, 10] Similar reports in patients with GERD are not available. A subset of patients with GERD experience nocturnal heartburn that may awaken them during the night. In others, despite lack of nocturnal symptoms, sleep abnormalities may occur due to acid reflux events. In both cases, GERD leads to poor sleep, and that in turn may enhance perception of intraesophageal stimuli, leading to reports of increased frequency and severity of perceived GERD symptoms. Thus, poor sleep may be a crucial factor in symptom generation and exacerbation of patients with GERD.