Acid Reflux Sleep

Lewis Said:

I suffer from bad acid reflux. How should I sleep to help improve symptoms?

We Answered:

If you were diagnosed with acid reflux, that doctor should have given you clear instructions on medication, sleep, and told you to call or make an appointment if those initial measures did not work. This is not just annoying, it can cause serious damage to your esophagus, even eventually to cancer. Lack of sleep puts you at other risks as well.

You may need prescription or other medication to control how much acid you make, not just Mylanta to neutralize it. You must discuss this with your doctor at once.

As for sleeping, one thing that may help immediately is elevating the head of your bed. Not propping it up with pillow, but actually raising the head end on blocks or bricks or books or special little plastic cups that you put under the legs at that end.

Also, avoid eating for several hours before reclining or lying down,

However, you really, really need to have another discussion with your doctor.

Melinda Said:

My 1 month old son has acid reflux and can't sleep...Can I put him on his tummy to sleep?

We Answered:

I would say sleeping on his tummy is fine. I hope you are nursing but given your baby has acid reflux it most likely isn't the case. Have you thought about trying to breastfeed, if this is a birthed and not an adoption. If nothing else works try one of those hot/cold pads and warm it to just warm not hot and put it under a blanket under his tummy to sleep. Do not let him lay down for at least an hour after eating and elevate the head of his bed a little. I hope this helps, god bless!

Bill Said:

for acid reflux--sleep on right or left side?

We Answered:

Eat your big meal at lunch instead of at dinnertime.
Eat at least two to three hours before lying down. Eliminate late-night snacking.
Avoid foods that are known to lead to heartburn.
Sleep with your head and shoulder on an incline.
Make sure your bed clothes are loose-fitting.
Sleep on your left side. Studies have shown that this position aids digestion and helps with the removal of stomach acid. Sleeping on the right side has been shown to worsen heartburn.

Jean Said:

I have acid reflux. Is there a certain position to sleep in to help it?

We Answered:

Lie on your left side, with the left (lower) leg outstretched and the right knee drawn up. It keeps the gastro-oesophageal sphincter from opening at night.

And don't forget to avoid spicy foods, caffeine etc and eat at least 1 hour before bedtime.

Ramona Said:

hi, when i go to sleep i start throwing up i take acid reflux meds and i am on some other meds?

We Answered:

What's your dosage? That may be too much medicine. Klonopin and Flexeril combined can really knock you out. I've never taken Seroquel or Pristiq, so I am not personally familiar with their effects, but I do know the other two pack a wallop. Are you taking these pills for anxiety or for some other reason?

Try sleeping slightly inclined. This might help keep the acid down and stop you from getting sick. Also, stay away from alcohol.

Allen Said:

If a baby has acid reflux could they choke in their sleep on the acid that comes up?

We Answered:

It's probably not acid so much as just saliva. It's completely normal, and no, the baby won't choke to death on it--if the baby's coughing, the baby's not choking, he/she is clearing the lungs. TV often portrays choking as people coughing, gagging, etc. But, if you're truly choking to death, there will be no sound coming from you at all and you cannot breathe at all to make yourself cough.

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