Nighttime Acid Reflux

Nighttime acid reflux: Do you have acid reflux and heartburn at night? Stomach troubles can disturb a good night's rest.  Changing your sleeping position and different eating habits can stop acid reflux at night.

Why Nighttime Acid Reflux?

Horizontal Position

During the day, the force of gravity pushes your stomach content down. You are sitting behind your desk, standing or walking.

Once you lie down in bed, gravity is eliminated. That means that your stomach valve has to work harder to keep your gastric juices inside.

Gas

You burp approximately 20 times during the course of a day.

Bubbles of gas tend to move upwards and find their way to the stomach entrance. Every time that you belch, pressure gets off your stomach. That means a relief from acid reflux, about 20 times a day.

Due to the horizontal position and a lack of movement during the night, these bubbles get stuck in your stomach.  An increasing amount of trapped air fills up your stomach, creates an overpressure and pushes your stomach content upwards.

Energy

Your body consumes less energy when you are sleeping. Your metabolic rate decreases by around 20 percent during the night.  That means a slow down of all body functions, including digestion. Foods stay in your stomach for a longer time, before moving further in the digestive tract.  

The longer the food remains in your stomach, the longer you are plagued with acid reflux.

Late-night Eating

Some people come home late from work and have supper late in the evening. Others manage to eat on time but start snacking before television.

In both cases, you end up with a full stomach prior to going to bed.  Laying down with a full stomach is the ideal recipe for acid reflux at night.

Alcohol Before Bed

A glass of wine every night or hanging out with friends late at night can be fun, but it isn't ideal for your stomach.

Alcohol increases the production of stomach acid and has a relaxing effect on your muscles. That's the reason why you feel so relaxed after a few consumptions.

The problem is that your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes  too, allowing stomach acid  to reflux back up into your esophagus.

Stop Acid Reflux At Night

Change your evening routine and cure nighttime acid reflux!

How?

Instead of a drinking or snacking before bed time, go for a walk. It increases your metabolism and speeds up digestion before going to bed.

Change your sleeping position by using a wedge pillow for acid reflux. A simple and efficient solution to use gravity while you are sleeping. 

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