It's estimated GERD affects 20% of adults in the U.S. Show
Most individuals with GERD experience increased symptoms severity, like heartburn, while they're trying to sleep or are sleeping. Understanding how acid reflux are impacted by your sleeping position could help you manage this condition better at night. GERD and Acid RefluxGERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. It occurs when the acid in your stomach often flows back into the tube that connects your stomach (esophagus) and mouth. This backwash, which is acid reflux, can aggravate your esophagus lining. Many individuals experience acid reflux here and there. GERD is considered mild acid reflux if occurring a minimum of twice weekly, or it can be a moderate to severe acid reflux if it occurs a minimum of once weekly. Most individuals can manage GERD's discomfort with lifestyle changes and OTC medications. But some individuals with GERD might require stronger medicine or even surgery to alleviate the symptoms. SymptomsCommon GERD symptoms include:
If you're experiencing acid reflux at night, you may also experience:
CausesRelaxation or weakness of your lower esophageal sphincter (valve) causes acid reflux. Typically, this valve closes up tight once food enters your stomach. When it relaxes when it shouldn't, the contents of your stomach come back up into your esophagus. Factors that could cause this are:
Why Does Acid Reflux Happen at Night?If you keep getting acid reflux at night and are asking yourself, "why do I have acid reflux every night?", you're not alone. There are several reasons why acid reflux is worse at night:
Is Acid Reflux Worse When You Lay Down?Certain GERD symptoms, like choking and coughing, tend to become worse when you're lying down or trying to sleep. Lying flat won't let gravity help move acids and food down your esophagus, through the digestive system, therefore, the acid just pools in one place. This acid backflow from your stomach into your esophagus could reach all the way up to your larynx and throat and cause you to experience a choking or coughing sensation, waking you up from sleep. How to Prevent Acid Reflux While Sleeping?Ways to prevent acid reflux while you sleep are:
What Is the Best Sleeping Position for Acid Reflux?Throughout the day, you're most likely sitting up or standing when acid from your stomach escapes, saliva, and gravity quickly returns this possibly harmful substance back to your stomach. Nighttime is a different story though. Depending on how you sleep, your esophagus could actually be below your stomach which allows acid to flow freely out, where it just sits in your lungs, esophagus, sinuses, and throat. This isn't good for your body. The way you sleep could directly impact how frequently you experience symptoms, how bad these symptoms are and how long acid is allowed to sit in your esophagus. Fortunately, you can dramatically change your nights, simply by changing how you sleep. Below are some of the best (and not so best) sleep positions for acid reflux. Back side:Sleeping on your back isn't recommended when you have nighttime acid reflux. When acid escapes from your belly and you're sleeping on your back flat, it's allowed to freely flow into your esophagus and in other areas and just sit there. Right side:Sleeping on your right side isn't ideal either when you experience acid reflux at night. When you lie flat on your right side, this causes your stomach to sit above your esophagus which creates a leaky faucet of stomach acid that flows into your esophagus's delicate lining, particularly if your stomach is full. Left side:Sleeping on your left side helps to reduce reflux. Gravity works in your favor since it positions your stomach below your esophagus, making reflux more difficult. If you were to have stomach acid escape, gravity would help return it back to your stomach faster than if you were on your right side or sleeping on your back. Inclined on the left side:This is probably the best way to sleep. The compound left-side, inclined sleep position makes nighttime acid reflux nearly impossible since your esophagus is now well above your stomach contents, even when you have a full belly. Plus, if you do reflux, gravity will return the contents quickly to your belly. Sleeping inclined on your left side decreases your GERD symptoms and provides protection from lengthy acid exposure to your throat, lungs, esophagus, and sinuses. 5 Tips to Keep Acid Reflux and GERD from Ruining your Sleep
↓ Learn more : Sleeping position in pregnancy See your doctor. If lifestyle changes or these acid reflux sleeping positions below don't help, it’s time to head to your doctor. Over-the-counter medicine may be able to help. ↓ Order the Zephyr Polysleep mattress! If you liked our blog article, please don't forget to Share it with your friends by clicking the button below! Does sleeping on your right side cause acid reflux?Right Side: It's Not Right for Acid Reflux
When lying on your right side, your stomach is actually above your esophagus, creating a leaky faucet spouting stomach acid into the delicate lining of your esophagus. This is especially true when your stomach is full.
What side should you not sleep on with acid reflux?Don't sleep on your right side. For some reason, this seems to prompt relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter — the tight ring of muscle connecting the stomach and esophagus that normally defends against reflux. Do sleep on your left side. This is the position that has been found to best reduce acid reflux.
Why do I get heartburn when I lay on my left side?Lying on your left side allows acidic contents to pass through the lower esophageal sphincter into the stomach.
How do you calm acid reflux at night?Elevating your head and chest higher than your feet as you sleep can help prevent and ease acid reflux and heartburn. You can do this using a foam wedge placed under the mattress or by raising bedposts using wood blocks. Beware of piling pillows, as this usually isn't effective and may even make your symptoms worse.
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