If you suffer from frequent heartburn disturbing your sleep, you are not alone. Up to 75 percent of US adults who experience heartburn during the day say that they can also experience heartburn at night. To get relief for frequent heartburn waking you up at night, here are some tips for finding relief from heartburn symptoms. They can help you discover a comfortable night’s sleep.
WHAT CAUSES HEARTBURN AT NIGHT?
Heartburn at night is often caused by lying down too soon after eating or drinking. Lying down can prevent food particles and liquids from moving easily down the esophagus and into the stomach and can also cause stomach acid to flow up into the esophagus, provoking heartburn symptoms. While the lining of the stomach is designed to withstand the acids that break down food before it moves through the gastrointestinal tract, the esophagus is not protected from acid in the same way. For these reasons, try to sit up or stand for three hours after eating to help reduce heartburn symptoms.
It’s important to remember that heartburn (whether at night and/or during the day) can be triggered by a variety of additional factors such as eating particular foods, stress, or smoking. Learn more about the causes of heartburn in general.
WHICH FOODS CAN MAKE HEARTBURN WORSE?
Certain foods are found to be more commonly associated with triggering heartburn than others. Foods and beverages linked to heartburn include.
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO RELIEVE HEARTBURN AT NIGHT?
One thing you can do to identify the causes of your nighttime heartburn is to track and write down your behavior around bedtime. For instance, if you tend to snack before bedtime, try eating those foods earlier in the day to see if symptoms improve.
Here are some lifestyle modifications that may help minimize heartburn symptoms at night.
Avoid eating anything within three hours of bedtime. Eating a late heavy dinner can cause stomach contents to press harder against the lower part of your esophagus when you lie down to sleep. Eating earlier in the evening could eliminate heartburn symptoms.
HOW TO TREAT FREQUENT HEARTBURN
If you’re experiencing frequent heartburn, taking an OTC medication could help. One way to treat frequent heartburn is with OTC proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). OTC PPIs like Nexium® 24HR turn off the acid pumps in your stomach and reduce the amount of acid that can flow back to the esophagus. Taking just 1 pill in the morning for 14 days* can provide you with 24-hour protection from frequent heartburn. To compare all heartburn treatments, please visit our "Compare Treatments" page. Remember, if an OTC medication doesn’t seem to work for you after the directed usage period, see your doctor.
*Use as directed for 14 days to treat frequent heartburn. Nexium® 24HR may take 1-4 days for full effect.