Sleep on Your Left Side
Heartburn can attack anytime, but for some people, the attacks become more frequent at night. It is pretty discomforting as it can result in sleeplessness, which can also elevate stress hormones such as cortisol which can affect other vital signs.
People suffering from GERD can feel the effects of the stomach acid creeping from the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) when they lie down. Without gravity, when people lay prone or supine, the LES may open up and let the stomach acids out. The moment the stomach acids hit the esophageal lining, the discomfort begins. In addition, people feel the sensation of food moving back up the esophagus and the acidic taste, which can also cause intermittent coughing fits.
Sleeping to the right side or prone makes the effect of GERD more prominent because the shape of the gastrointestinal tract is skewed towards the left side of the body, and laying to the right will make the flow of stomach acid easier. Meanwhile, lying to the left will ease the symptoms and manifestations of GERD as the probability of the acid spilling from the stomach is significantly lessened.
