When it comes to sleeping at night, if acid reflux is happening to you, you probably are not spending any real time asleep. Your position can impact this. If you change the position in which you sleep, it may be possible to minimize the risk of acid reflux coming back up your esophagus. A bit of elevation is a good starting point.
Consider the Position of Your Esophagus
When you eat, your mouth is connected to your stomach with a long tube called the esophagus. When you are sitting or standing, this tube uses gravity to pull food down. When you lay down, that food remains in your stomach because of a tight valve that doesn’t allow it to flow back up. However, this can happen to those who have a gap in this valve. When this happens, you have acid reflux.
Keeping this image in mind, consider what happens if you elevate your head and shoulders. You are again able to use gravity to help pull that food downward, toward your stomach. It cannot come back up as easily, and your symptoms are less.
How Can You Do This?
There are plenty of ways you can do this, but pillows tend to be not enough. This is where Travelwedge can work well for you. It helps to provide that important elevation that you need but allows you to still feel comfortable as you lay down. In short, it stops the flow of food and acids back up your esophagus.
If you are suffering from acid reflux, it is always best to work with your doctor to control why it happens. However, making a few changes at night can give you some important relief and better quality sleep as well without limiting your comfort.