We would be remiss if we just discussed what to do when Reflux occurs at night. We need to understand that if you are having Reflux at night it is only the symptom of a bigger problem that started long ago, most likely during the day.

If Reflux awakens you you should be under your doctor’s care.

Now for the things you could do at night. The very first natural thing should be lifting the head of your bed, not propping yourself up with pillows. I tend to sleep on my left side, which for various reasons helps keep the acid down.

As it is understood the stomach is shaped like a “C” and by sleeping on your left side the belly of the “C” is on the bottom, which allows it can to hold more content and reduce Reflux. When sleeping on the right the opposite happens the content presses on the sphincter valve on the top of the stomach and seems to leak out.

If you are violently awoken by an Acid Reflux Volcanic type attack first thing you will do is sit up, most likely very quickly because you might even feel like you are choking.

When this happens you will need to sit up for a while in order not to have a possible repeat incident and you most likely are in misery. I could only share what i have done in such a situation.

This might be a little disgusting but it works for me. I sit up and take 2 Gaviscon tablets. A doctor told me that Gaviscon offers a barrier between the stomach and the esophagus. I sip cold water and usually do a lot of coughing.

Additionally, I spit out what comes up and this seems to reduce the pressure and dilute the Acid. Originally I would cough only and it would take many hours before I would try to get a little more sleep, by spitting out what I cough up I usually could go back to sleep in an hour or 1 1/4 hours.

Sleeping on a flat surface only allows the stomach content to settle in the esophagus and do damage, by sleeping on a Reflux Guard it allows the bad stuff to drain.

Learn more about heartburn symptoms and treatment.