which side should i sleep on with heartburn

The position you sleep in can have a big impact on the quality of sleep you get, especially if you suffer from acid reflux and heartburn. There are even pillows made specifically for side sleepers, which may have special contours or an opening to slip your bottom arm through. Try hugging a pillow in front of you, or sleeping with one between your legs. If you simply find left side sleeping uncomfortable, it might be time for a little more padding. Spend a few nights sleeping on your left side on the couch, then transition back to bed. Pain when you lie down, a burning in your chest, and stomach acid scorching your throat all make falling asleep or. Though it might not seem like the most elegant solution, your sofa is likely much narrower than your bed, and this will make it difficult to sleep on your stomach. How Does Acid Reflux Interfere With Sleep.

If you’re having trouble switching sides, try tips like: Changing the side you sleep on is not always easy, but like any habit, you can adopt a better sleep position by making gradual changes until a better position becomes your new normal. Of course, you aren’t always cognizant of your sleeping position-you are unconscious, after all. Help with heartburn: People who experience heartburn might benefit from sleeping on their left side, as right-side sleeping relaxes connecting muscles between the stomach and the. Sleeping on your back is also preferential to right-side sleeping, especially if you use pillows to prop your head up. Studies have shown that left-side sleeping has a tendency to calm heartburn, perhaps because it keeps the LES above the level of acid in your stomach. When it comes to preventing acid reflux and heartburn, sleeping on the left side appears to be most beneficial. Stomach sleeping may also have similar effects. Researchers have found significant increases in overall acid clearance and reflux time in studies of right-side sleeping. Though we aren’t exactly sure why, some have hypothesized that sleeping on the right side can relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is the muscular valve that keeps stomach acid from entering the esophagus.

Many studies show that sleeping on your right side can lead to heartburn. Sometimes, minimizing your risk of nightly heartburn is as simple as sleeping on a different side. The position you sleep in can have a surprisingly strong influence on GERD symptoms. The right-side sleepers had greater acid levels and longer 'esophageal acid clearance,' wrote the researchers. However, your ability to avoid acid reflux at night doesn’t just hinge on how late you eat or how high you raise the head of your bed. Nighttime symptoms are common for many people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and if you’ve been experiencing them, you may have already found a few ways to reduce your risk of symptoms while you sleep. When acid reflux and heartburn strike in the middle of the night, they can stand between you and the sleep you need. Why the Right Side is the Wrong Side for Sleeping with Acid Reflux Posted:

Which side should i sleep on with heartburn