What kind of pillow is best for acid reflux?
What kind of pillow is best for acid reflux?
Wedge pillows can help alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD, especially at night. By slightly elevating your head, shoulders, and torso during sleep, wedge pillows can prevent acid from leaking out of your stomach and into your esophagus.
Can a pillow help acid reflux?
If you suffer from acid reflux at night, you may get relief in an unexpected way: by sleeping on a specially designed pillow. The pillow — what the manufacturer calls a sleep positioning device —may help eliminate the need for acid-reducing medications or, potentially, surgeries.
Can pillows cause acid reflux?
Because they only elevate your head and neck, multiple pillows may actually increase pressure on the stomach and make acid reflux worse. You want to elevate both your head and your torso to allow gravity to help clear the reflux.
What is the best position to sleep to minimize acid reflux if you have GERD?
Multiple research studies have found that being on your left side is the best sleeping position for people with GERD18. Sleeping with your left side down reduces reflux episodes19 and exposure of the esophagus to stomach acid. Sleeping in other positions, including on your back, can make reflux more likely20.
How can I sleep comfortably with acid reflux?
Don’t sleep on your right side. For some reason, this seems to prompt relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter — the tight ring of muscle connecting the stomach and esophagus that normally defends against reflux. Do sleep on your left side. This is the position that has been found to best reduce acid reflux.
How many inches should a wedge pillow be for GERD?
Sleepers who suffer from sleep apnea and acid reflux may benefit more from the 10-inch wedge pillow, while the 12-inch incline is more comfortable for sitting up and watching television or reading in bed.
Does sleeping on an incline help GERD?
According to an article published in the journal Missouri medicine, head of bed elevation (sleeping at an incline) is proven to manage GERD. It limits how often stomach acid escapes to the esophagus, allows your body to get stomach acid back to your stomach quicker, and reduces the symptoms of GERD.
How do you calm acid reflux at night?
- Sleep with your upper body elevated.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Avoid foods that trigger your heartburn.
- Steer clear of late-night meals or big meals.
- Relax when you eat.
- Stay upright after eating.
- Wait to exercise.
- Chew gum.
Can a wedge pillow make reflux worse?
Using a wedge pillow will only cause tension and pain to get worse for stomach sleepers. If you prefer to rest on your stomach and you frequently experience GERD, we recommend switching to the side or back so you can enjoy the benefits of a wedge pillow.
How much should you raise the head of your bed for acid reflux?
Most studies suggest that the ideal height of bed head elevation is at least 6-8 inches (15-20 centimeters). This height is medically proven to prevent acid reflux when lying down. In actuality, the more elevation, the better. However, you still have to be able to comfortably sleep.