Does GERD get worse when you lay down?

The symptoms of GERD, such as coughing and choking, tend to worsen when you are lying down or attempting to sleep. The backflow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus can reach as high as your throat and larynx, causing you to experience a coughing or choking sensation. This can cause you to wake up from sleep.

Does lying down help GERD?

Likewise, a 2012 study suggests that elevating the head while lying down may reduce nighttime acid reflux and help manage heartburn and poor sleep from nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux.

What side should I sleep on with GERD?

Due to gravity, the shape of the stomach, and the angle of the connection between it and the esophagus, sleeping on your left side can greatly reduce reflux (see bottom picture). Another way to use gravity to help decrease nighttime GERD symptoms involves propping up the head section of the bed by about six inches.

How do I raise my bed for acid reflux?

If you’ve been waking up at night with heartburn, here are tips to help you sleep better:

1. Raise the head of the bed by 4 to 6 inches, so you can sleep with your head and chest elevated.
2. Eat meals two to three hours before bed, since this will reduce the risk of nighttime heartburn.

Can GERD symptoms last for days?

The uncomfortable symptoms of heartburn can last for two hours or longer, depending on the cause. Mild heartburn that occurs after eating spicy or acidic food typically lasts until the food has been digested. Heartburn symptoms may also return several hours after they first appeared if you bend over or lie down.

Can a GERD flare up last for weeks?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that causes the contents of your stomach to wash back up into your esophagus, throat, and mouth. GERD is chronic acid reflux with symptoms that occur more than twice a week or that last for weeks or months.

Is it bad to lay down with acid reflux at night?

Regardless of the cause of your acid reflux, lying down — whether it’s at night or during the day — is bound to worsen symptoms and prolong the time it will take your body to digest your food completely. If you have acid reflux more than twice a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Why does lying down cause heartburn?

When you sit or stand, gravity helps move your food through the esophagus and into the stomach where digestion occurs. “When you’re lying down, you lose gravity’s help in allowing your esophagus to clear food, bile and acids,” says gastroenterologist Scott Gabbard, MD. “That can allow for heartburn to happen.”

Why does acid reflux occur when lying flat?

Why reflux occurs when lying flat? Acid reflux, or more correctly gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), arises when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) malfunctions. This sphincter normally prevents the stomach contents from flowing backwards into the esophagus (food pipe).

How can I prevent acid reflux from getting worse?

Wait at least 3 hours after eating before lying down. Improve your posture. Try standing up straight to elongate your esophagus and give your stomach more room. Stop smoking. Smoking can irritate the esophagus, the airways, and can cause coughing, which can trigger acid reflux or make it worse.