When it comes to sleeping well at night, having acid reflux may make it seem impossible. When it comes to choosing a way to sleep, then, your best bet is to avoid positions that encourage reflux to occur. How can you do that?
Why Back Sleeping Is Not Okay
Your goal should be to avoid sleeping on your back. When you sleep on your back, it is easy for acid to move upward into the esophagus, causing the pain you feel. When that happens, you are less likely to be able to sleep. To avoid that, then, you need to let gravity work for you.
Other Positions to Consider
There are other positions that may alleviate some of your discomforts. For example, that may include sleeping on your left side. The left side, in particular, helps because your stomach is then lower than your esophagus. Most of the time, you will not see the same benefit by sleeping on the right.
Elevation Makes the Difference
The best way to avoid acid reflux besides using medication is to elevate your shoulders and your head. By doing this, you are able to create a small incline that allows gravity to keep those acids lower in your stomach and not able to climb up into your esophagus. This helps to reduce the pain you feel.
In fact, sleeping on your left side with an elevation tends to be the best combination of positions to encourage good quality sleep. Though every person is a bit different, many people find that this position offers the best combination of elevation and comfort to minimize symptoms. It can also be one of the best ways for you to get more restful, quality sleep even if you have a meal that causes more reflux than normal.
