How Doctors Look at Acid Reflux

  When you suffer from acid reflux or from indigestion, it can often be difficult to sleep well. Many nights might be filled with bouts of heartburn or nausea. In fact, many people only have trouble with acid reflux at night. If you are longing for a peaceful night of sleep, there are several things you can do to help reduce the possibility of symptoms and get back on track to a good resting schedule. Take a look at these ways you can help your nights become more restful and less difficult. After all, just because you have acid reflux doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get the rest you need.

Eating After 6pm

One of the biggest mistakes people with acid reflux make is eating late in the evening. In fact, doctors suggest that those who suffer with night time acid reflux or indigestion should not eat up to three hours before they plan to go bed. Many people tend to schedule dinner later than they should and end up eating only an hour or two before they lay down. This is not good because when you eat before bed you aren’t giving your body enough time to digest what you eat. And that is one reason you may be having reflux during the night or even in the morning when you wake.

Raising Your Body

Another thing you can do to help yourself get a lot of rest at night is to raise your head while sleeping. There are several ways you can do that. Many people choose to get blocks to put under the upper two legs of their bed. This will raise the head of their bed and allow their head to be automatically higher than the rest of their body, without having to really think about it much. Most people won’t really notice the raise, so your spouse won’t likely be bothered by it. But your body will notice it and likely be helped.

Another way you can choose to raise your head is simply to add another pillow under your neck at night. If you can find a way to prop yourself up while you are sleeping, you will reduce your risk for acid reflux at night. The higher you can stand to be propped up, the better it will work.

Medication Times

A third way you can try to get a good night’s sleep is to coordinate your medication so it is most effective throughout the night. Ask your doctor about how long your medication takes to kick in once you swallow the pill. Then try to take it so that it will kick in at the highest when you are about to go to sleep. This may or may not be helpful for you, but it is worth trying.

Overall, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to find a way to control your acid reflux at night and get a great night’s sleep. The more restful your night is, the better you will feel all day long. So, trying to get a grip on your nighttime symptoms is important and should be a priority. Acid reflux and indigestion are controllable conditions, so keep trying until you figure out what works best for you.