![]() ![]() Sleeping at an incline means sleeping with your head elevated 6 to 8 inches off your body by putting extra pillows under your head and upper back. Studies show that symptoms are less frequent and less severe when a person sleeps on their left side, making it a more desirable sleep position for people with GERD. Plus, if stomach acid does escape, gravity can return it to your stomach quicker than when lying on your right side or back. Gravity works in your favor on your left side, as your stomach now stays below your esophagus, making reflux more challenging. Sleeping on your left side can be a game-changer when it comes to managing nighttime GERD symptoms. Now that we know the sleep positions to avoid let's take a look at the best sleeping position for acid reflux: Sleeping on Your Left Side Plus, if you lie flat on your right side, your symptoms may be more liquid, leading to regurgitation, coughing, and choking. When you lie on your right side, your stomach is above your esophagus, creating a leaky faucet spouting stomach acid into the delicate lining of your esophagus. Sleeping on your right side is also not ideal for people with GERD. If you have stomach fat, it can push down on your stomach and force contents to escape, exacerbating symptoms. When you sleep on your back, acid can flow freely from your stomach into your esophagus, leading to more frequent and longer-lasting symptoms. Here are two sleep positions to avoid if you suffer from nighttime GERD symptoms: ![]() Not all sleep positions are created equal when it comes to managing acid reflux. But, when you lie down, stomach acid can move back up to your esophagus, and this usually happens within the first two or three hours of sleep.Įating heavy meals late at night, consuming fatty foods, spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine, smoking tobacco, stress, pregnancy, weight gain, and taking drugs that affect the functioning of the esophagus like anticholinergic drugs (e.g., antidepressants and muscle relaxants) and anti-inflammatory drugs (like diclofenac and ibuprofen) can all trigger acid reflux. During the day, you are more likely to be upright, standing or sitting up, which makes it easier for gravity and saliva to return stomach acid to the stomach quickly. Gravity and anatomy play a significant role in the occurrence of GERD symptoms. This allows stomach acid to escape into the esophagus, leading to GERD symptoms such as heartburn, acid regurgitation, bloating, nausea, and belching. GERD happens when the muscles at the lower part of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, become weak or relaxed. ![]()
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