Acid Reflux
Why is Acid Reflux Bad in the Morning and How to Minimize it?
Sep 6, 2017Mose of us usually don’t notice, but we frequently swallow in order to help produce saliva. And this saliva, in turn, lubricates our digestive system. Saliva also contains important electrolytes and enzymes which are beneficial to our body. If you are getting acid reflux in the morning, this could be because you’re not swallowing during your sleep. When you rise in the morning, you experience much worse symptoms than you do during the day. Because stomach acid can sit in the esophagus without saliva helping out. This can be very frustrating. However, there are a few techniques that will help to alleviate your symptoms.
3 Tips To Minimize Acid Reflux In The Morning
Sleep With Your Head Elevated
Studies show that head of bed is effective in reducing acid reflux. This is especially true for those who experience greater symptoms at night time and early morning. Try placing more pillows underneath your head. You can also try keeping blocks under the top of your bed for elevation. The idea is to keep your head more elevated than your stomach. Because of this elevation, stomach acid doesn’t travel up your esophagus while you’re sleeping.
Doctors will recommend head of bed as beneficial, due to the effect of gravity. Patients who have tried this approach have reported:
- Significantly fewer and shorter reflux episodes
- Faster acid clearing
- Fewer reflux symptoms
This remedy helps you to get sound sleep. It is also a great preventative measure to avoid waking up with a burning pain in your esophagus.
Eat Smaller Portions at Dinner
Keep a close eye on the portion size of your last meal of the day. Also, keep a tab on the time in which you eat before sleeping. You will probably notice changes in your reflux symptoms upon waking. To prevent this, try to allow at least three hours for your food to digest before going to bed.
Often, acid reflux is a result of a faulty lower esophageal sphincter (LES). LES is the valve that sits at the bottom of your esophagus. In normal function, the LES opens and closes when swallowing food or belching. However, it should remain closed at all other times.
Going to bed on a full stomach can only aggravate an abnormal LES. This happens especially if you sleep in a flat position. Therefore, combining the head of bed remedy will assist. Because during the day your body normally has a lot more time to digest food, in a natural and upright position.
Drink Lemon Water When Waking
It’s important to rehydrate when you wake up. That’s because a dry throat can often make symptoms of acid reflux even worse. Water is a great option as it is alkaline. It has a positive effect in balancing out the powerful acidity contained in stomach acid.Drinking lemon water helps with reflux symptoms. Lemon water helps to reduce inflammation naturally and activate the digestive system after sleeping.
Shannon has a burning desire to share the best health and wellness tips to lead a life that is rich and fulfilling. She has a particular interest in nutrition, holistic approaches, wellness, integrative medicine and naturopathic treatments through healing foods"
Latest posts by Shannon Davidson, Health Writer (see all)
- Why is Acid Reflux Bad in the Morning and How to Minimize it? - September 6, 2017
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References:
Advances in GERD- Current Developments in the Management of Acid-Related GI Disorders https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2886414/
