what side to sleep on for heartburn

1 year ago 57
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Sleeping on the left side is recommended for people with heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) . This is because the esophagus is located in the center of the body, but the stomach is a curved organ with the majority of its volume in the left side of the upper abdomen. Sleeping on the left side can greatly reduce reflux due to gravity, the shape of the stomach, and the angle of the connection between it and the esophagus. Sleeping on the right side or on the back can make reflux worse. To remember which side to sleep on, some experts suggest the memory trick "right is wrong". Additionally, propping up the head section of the bed by about six inches can also help decrease nighttime GERD symptoms.