Rising stomach acid can cause bothersome symptoms. Especially when it appears at night or while sleeping. It is therefore important to set the best sleeping position for gastric reflux, such as sleeping on your left side or with upper body support.
When stomach acid is high, sleeping comfortably at night can be difficult. Although this acid has an important role in the digestive system, when it rises into the esophagus (reflux), there will be uncomfortable symptoms, such as a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn) and nausea.
The key to controlling nighttime acid reflux symptoms is to keep stomach acid where it belongs, in the stomach. Choosing the best sleeping position for proper gastric reflux plays an important role in this. Come on, see the discussion further!
Stomach Acid Rise? Try best sleeping position for gastric reflux
Gravity and anatomy play a huge role in finding relief from the symptoms of high stomach acid at night. During the day, you are most likely to be standing or sitting so when the acid is released, gravity and saliva quickly return this potentially harmful substance to the stomach.
Likewise, when upright, the esophagus naturally drains back stomach acid that rises to the stomach. The rapid return of acid to the stomach usually shortens the symptoms, while minimizing the potential for acid to irritate the delicate lining of the esophagus.
So, what to do when stomach acid rises at night? One effort that can be done is to choose the best sleeping position for proper gastric reflux. Here are some recommended sleeping positions:
- Adjust sleeping position tilt to the Left Sisi
Sleeping on your left side reduces the risk of stomach acid rising. This is because the stomach is below the esophagus, which makes reflux more difficult. If the acid leaks out, gravity can return it to the stomach more quickly than when lying on the right side.
- Sleeping with Head Support
Sleeping with the head propped up with a pillow so that it is higher than the body is also recommended when acid reflux rises. This allows the acidic fluids that rise back up into the stomach more quickly.
Prevention tips other than adjusting the sleeping position for gastric reflux
In addition to choosing the right sleeping position at night, you can also prevent the appearance of stomach acid symptoms during sleep, in the following ways:
- Eat-in small portions, but more often. Try eating several small meals throughout the day rather than two or three large meals. Also, avoid eating high-calorie and high-fat foods at night.
- Try different variations of food. Eat more vegetables and oatmeal, which are among the foods that help with acid reflux symptoms.
- Chew more and slowly. This can make the food smoother and easier to digest.
- Wait at least 3 hours after eating before lying down, including at night.
- Improve posture. Try standing up straight to lengthen your esophagus and give your stomach more room.
- Quit smoking, as this habit can irritate the esophagus, airways, and cause coughing, which can trigger acid reflux or make it worse.
- Avoid clothes that are too tight around the waist, as they can put pressure on the stomach.
- Try taking a leisurely walk after dinner to help improve digestion and reduce the risk of acid rising up into the esophagus.
That’s a little discussion about the best sleeping position when stomach acid is high and other tips. If this health problem does not subside, you can try to talk about this with your doctor.