How to deal with heartburn that often recurs at night

Have you ever felt sick in the middle of sleep and there was a hot sensation in the solar plexus area? It could be, you experience heartburn. Heartburn is a painful sensation in the chest and upper stomach area due to acid reflux. This pain can get worse when you fall asleep. The reason is that the lying position does not allow gravity to retain stomach acid, digested food, and bile in your stomach. So that the quality of sleep does not decrease, here are various ways to overcome it heartburn that happened at night.

How to overcome heartburn if it happens at night

Almost all people who have digestive problems with symptoms form heartburn will experience a sensation of chest and stomach pain at night. This condition is also known as heartburn nighttime This can happen as much as once a week, or even more.

If left untreated, a painful sensation results heartburn can disturb your sleep. However, there are a few tips you can do to overcome it.

1. Avoiding triggers heartburn

The best way to deal with heartburn at night is to avoid the trigger. There are several types of food and drink that can trigger heartburn so that consumption needs to be limited to reduce the risk of rising stomach acid. These foods and drinks include:

Spicy dish
Acidic foods, including citrus fruits and dishes containing vinegar
Food greasy and junk food
Alcoholic, caffeinated, or fizzy drinks
Triggers heartburn others such as chocolate, mint, onions, and various types of packaged sauces

2. Set portions and a schedule for eating before bed

The digestion process in the stomach can take up to several hours. During that time, stomach acid works to digest food. Gastric acid can rise, resulting in heartburn , but you can overcome this condition by setting the right time and portion of meals before bed. Here are the tips:

Eat smaller portions.
Do not lie down for 2-3 hours after eating because it can increase the risk of developing stomach acid.
Eat casually and not too fast. When you eat in a hurry,
Dinner at 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Avoid the habit of eating snacks before bed.

3. Set the sleeping position

Like food and drink, some sleeping positions can also affect the digestive system and trigger acid reflux at night. Therefore, how to adjust the sleeping position plays an important role to overcome heartburn so as not to disturb your sleep.

Try lying on your left side when you go to sleep. You also need to keep your upper body higher than the stomach. This is because stomach acid rises more easily when the stomach and esophagus are at the same level.

You can work around this by using a special pillow. The pillow you use should be 15-25 cm thick on one side. Do not replace it with a regular pillow, because a regular pillow can only elevate your head and not your body.

4. Live healthy habits

Living a healthy habit is one of the most important ways to overcome it heartburn at night. This includes your diet, lifestyle, and habits before bed. Some tips that you can do include:

Manage stress properly, because stress can trigger acid reflux.
Maintain ideal body weight.
Wear loose clothing to reduce pressure on the stomach.
Chew gum before bed to increase saliva production. Saliva can neutralize stomach acid.
Drink enough water to smooth the digestive process.
Avoid smoking.

In addition to implementing coping methods heartburn independently, regular doctor visits also play an important role in dealing with this condition. Heartburn is a common symptom of many digestive problems, and certain medications can make your complaint worse. Examination by a doctor is useful so that you can get treatment based on the digestive problems you are facing.