Acid reflux is a condition in which gastric contents that are meant to be kept in the stomach flow back into the oesophagus. Heartburn often occurs as a result, and stomach acid may even penetrate all the way up to the throat and into the mouth. For those who do struggle with heartburn after acid reflux, it might be worth visiting a website like https://www.zantacotc.com/en-us/ to see if their medication could prevent and relieve this.
Frequent acid reflux is a possible symptom of GORD (Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease), which experts predict is experienced by around one in ten people every day. Acid reflux and GORD can potentially damage the lining of the oesophagus, so this is a condition that demands to be taken seriously. Luckily, you can help prevent acid reflux simply by using an adjustable bed.
Here’s how.
Adjustable Beds Keep Your Upper Body Elevated
Adjustable beds are used by people who suffer from a wide range of conditions, and acid reflux is one of them. You can use an adjustable bed to keep your head raised as you sleep. All you need to do is elevate the head above the lower body by around 20cm – this is enough to prevent gastric contents flowing up the oesophagus.
Using an adjustable bed in this fashion is particularly recommended if you suffer from mobility problems and have to stay in bed after taking a big meal. In general, people are advised not to lie down for up to 3 hours after a large meal. If you are forced to lie down, you can at least keep your head elevated to prevent that significant influx of food leading to acid reflux.
Adjustable Beds Don’t Place Pressure on Your Body
You might be telling yourself that using an adjustable bed is overkill – after all, you can always simply stack up pillows behind your back to keep your head elevated. Unfortunately, this is a poor solution for two important reasons.
Firstly, pillows are likely to shift during the night, making it tougher to sleep and impossible to guarantee the head will stay elevated. More importantly, pillows can bunch up, placing pressure at certain points across the body and potentially making acid reflux more likely.