Tips for sleep without heartburn

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

• Raise the head of the bed by 4 to 6 inches, so you can sleep with your head and chest elevated. You can lift the top end of the bed by sticking blocks underneath -- although your spouse may object once he or she has slid out of the bed a few times. You could also lie on special wedge pillows designed to help you sleep on an incline.
  
  
• Eat meals two to three hours before bed, since this will reduce the risk of nighttime heartburn. Avoid bedtime snacks.
  
  
• Don't wear clothes that fit tightly around the waist, since they can aggravate your symptoms.
  
  
• Chew gum during the evening. This can boost the production of saliva, which neutralizes stomach acid.
  
  
• Try sleeping on your left side. Some studies have shown that this helps with digestion, simply because of a quirk of the body's design. Sleeping on your right side seems to be most likely to aggravate symptoms.
  
  
• Avoid foods that can trigger reflux or irritate the esophageal lining. These include alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, coffee, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, pepper, vinegar, catsup and mustard, and spicy or fatty foods.
  
  
• Don't use medicines that can worsen reflux. Examples include aspirin, other painkillers, and calcium-channel blockers. Check with your doctor about alternatives if you are currently taking any reflux-worsening medications. Never stop a medication without first talking to your doctor.
  
  
• If you smoke, stop.
  
  
• If you're overweight, try to lose some of your excess pounds.

Source: WEBMD

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