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Avoiding nighttime heartburn: Here's what you should know

Many people who regularly have heartburn and acid reflux also experience it at night, and the discomfort and bitter taste can make falling asleep difficult or impossible. When you lay flat in bed, your throat and stomach are basically at the same level, making it easy for stomach acids to flow up your esophagus, causing heartburn. Ano ang gamot sa heartburn, especially when it strikes at night?Fortunately, you can ease heartburn at night with a few lifestyle changes.

Avoiding nighttime heartburn: Here's what you should know

Heartburn and acid reflux vs hyperacidity

Related to heartburn and acid reflux, you may also experience hyperacidity. This is when there is excess acid in the stomach. This results in pain in the upper stomach, a feeling of sourness or acidity in the stomach, and feeling bloated or flatulent. You may experience hyperacidity even without eating.

Ano ang gamot sa heartburn? Tips to ease heartburn at night

Sleep on your left side

Because your esophagus is now elevated beyond the level of your stomach contents, even if your stomach is full, sleeping on your left side might help ease heartburn at night. If you experience reflux, gravity can swiftly restore the contents to your stomach.

Achieve a healthy weight

As you gain weight, heartburn might get worse. Losing as little as two and a half pounds can help.

Add an extra pillow under the head when sleeping

When you lie flat in bed, your neck and stomach are almost at the same level. This makes it easy for stomach acids to travel up your esophagus and induce heartburn. To avoid this, sleep with your upper body elevated.

Dress comfortably

According to specialists, tight clothing frequently makes the stomach feel gassier since food cannot be properly digested under pressure in the abdomen. The food that is not digested may contribute to acid reflux.

Keep a meal journal

A meal journal can help you keep track of the things that may cause your heartburn, especially citrus fruits and acidic foods like tomato products. While the causes of heartburn vary from person to person, common offenders include alcohol, caffeinated beverages like colas, coffee, and tea, chocolate and cocoa, peppermint, garlic, onions, milk, and fatty, spicy, greasy, or fried meals.

Consider light meals in the evening

As late-night or heavy meals put pressure on your stomach, try eating a smaller meal in the evening to help prevent overnight heartburn symptoms. Also, avoid eating two to three hours before bedtime to reduce stomach acid and enable the stomach to partially empty its contents before you sleep.

Avoid rushing through meals

Avoid hurried meals because doing so can make your stomach produce more stomach acids. After meals, unwind, but don’t lie down; instead, try deep breathing exercises or meditation. Also, stay upright after eating to reduce the risk of acid splashing up your throat.

Rest after meals

Before indulging in strenuous exercise, wait a few hours after a meal to give your stomach a chance to empty. Don’t forget to stay upright while resting. 

Chew sugar-free gum

Some study reveals that chewing gum after a large meal can lower acid levels in the esophagus and may help in preventing gastroesophageal reflux disease. This may help battle acid reflux and heartburn symptoms as well as freshen breath.

Talk to your doctor about your medication use

Some drugs, such as some NSAIDs, some blood pressure and heart meds, some hormone prescriptions, some asthma and depression drugs, can cause heartburn in various ways, just like different people’s food triggers can.

Heartburn: When to go to the Doctor

Heartburn that occurs at night or that gets worse could be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It can be brought on by a number of things, including eating particular foods, eating too close to bedtime, and using certain prescription medications. If lifestyle modification does not help you control your heartburn, it might be time for medication or another type of therapy. 

Call your doctor if:

  • Heartburn that won’t go away
  • Having difficulty swallowing
  • Your heartburn makes you throw up,
  • Even after taking antacids for two weeks, you still get heartburn.

Consistent heartburn should never be ignored. At worst, it can be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can result in esophageal cancer. It can also scar and narrow your esophagus.

Ano ang gamot sa heartburn at hyperacidity?

If you are experiencing acid reflux and heartburn or hyperacidity, over-the-counter medication may help you gain relief from your symptoms.

In case of hyperacidity, Aluminum Hydroxide + Magnesium Hydroxide + Simeticone (KREMIL-S) may give you relief, working within five minutes.

In case of heartburn and acid reflux, Famotidine + Calcium Carbonate + Magnesium Hydroxide (Kremil-S Advance) may be more appropriate for you. This is best if you prefer a chewable tablet format and experience recurring heartburn and acid reflux. Kremil-S Advance works in as fast as 3 minutes and provides all-day relief for up to 12 hours.

If you prefer fast, soothing relief from heartburn and acid reflux, in liquid format, try Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Kremil-S Cool Relief). It works in as fast as 1 minute and tastes good.

Key Takeaways

Experiencing acid reflux or heartburn, or hyperacidity at night may bring a lot of discomfort and pain. Kung hinahanap mo ang gamot sa heartburn, makatutulong ang paggawa ng lifestyle changes at pagbibigay-pansin sa mga kinakain mo.. For quick relief, you may also take over-the-counter medication to help with symptoms.

Learn more about Heartburn here

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Disclaimer

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The Effect of Chewing Sugar-free Gum on Gastro-esophageal Reflux, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/154405910508401118, Accessed October 28, 2022
Heartburn, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9617-heartburn-overview#:~:text=For%20many%20people%2C%20heartburn%20can,trigger%20heartburn%20for%20some%20people., Accessed October 28, 2022
The Sensitive Gut, https://www.health.harvard.edu/digestive-health/the-sensitive-gut, Accessed October 28, 2022
Why Does Your Heartburn Always Seem Worse at Night?, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-does-your-heartburn-always-seem-worse-at-night/, Accessed October 28, 2022
GERD and Sleep, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/gerd-and-sleep, Accessed October 28, 2022

Can Fasting Cause Hyperacidity?, https://lokmanyahospitals.com/blogs/can-fasting-cause-hyperacidity, Accessed 10 Sept 2026

Current Version

09/10/2026

Written by Lorraine Bunag, R.N.

Medically reviewed by Jezreel Esguerra, MD

Updated by: Fidelis Tan


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Medically reviewed by

Jezreel Esguerra, MD

General Practitioner


Written by Lorraine Bunag, R.N. · Updated 10 hours ago

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