If you regularly wake up with a burning sensation in your chest, a sour taste in your mouth, or the uncomfortable feeling that stomach contents are creeping back toward your throat, your sleeping position may be worth considering.
Acid reflux can be especially frustrating at night. Once you're lying down, gravity is no longer helping keep stomach contents where they belong, and symptoms can become more noticeable. For some people with nighttime reflux, something as simple as changing the side they sleep on may help.
Research has found that sleeping on the left side is associated with less nighttime acid exposure than sleeping on the right side or on the back. That doesn't mean changing positions will cure GERD, but it can be a useful part of managing nighttime symptoms.
What Is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux (GER), happens when stomach contents move backward into the esophagus.
Occasional reflux is common. When reflux repeatedly causes troublesome symptoms or complications, it may be diagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Common symptoms include:
- A burning feeling in the chest or throat
- A sour or acidic taste in the mouth
- Food or liquid coming back up
- Chest discomfort
- Nausea
- Chronic cough or hoarseness in some people
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing
Nighttime symptoms can be particularly disruptive because they may interfere with sleep and leave you uncomfortable for hours.
Why Can Sleeping Position Make a Difference?
When you're standing or sitting upright, gravity helps keep stomach contents from traveling upward into the esophagus.
Lying down removes much of that gravitational advantage.
Your body position can also affect how quickly refluxed material clears from the esophagus. Studies examining nighttime reflux have found meaningful differences between sleeping positions, particularly between the left and right sides.
That is why the way you position yourself in bed may matter more if you already experience reflux at night.
Is Sleeping on Your Left Side Better?
