Heartburn At Night- Why Heartburn Occur More Frequently At Night?

Heartburn is experienced by almost all people in the world at one point or another, such as after having a heavy meal, or having a heavy dosage of drugs or medications. It often occurs with pain and irritation in the chest and throat. It is basically caused by a defect in the lower part of the esophagus, specifically the esophageal sphincter, which should act to keep acids and food from the stomach from backflowing into the esophagus.

Causes of suffering from heartburn at night:

One of the main causes of heartburn at nighttime is the excessive food and the kind of food we eat right before going to bed. People should remember that they must not overeat shortly before going to bed, as there is no chance for the food to be properly digested. Fruits such as guavas should be avoided because if they are eaten on empty stomach, acidity occurs. If it is consumed after meals, then it might give a laxative effect. Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons should also be avoided in order to prevent the occurrence of heartburn at night.

Another cause for heartburn at night is the consumption of dried fruits or preserved fruits which contain a lot of spices and additives. Intake of dried fruits should be limited to the winter season, and never shortly before bedtime at that.

Another main reason for heartburn in night is the consumption of milk. Even though it is good for our health, it might lead to heartburn. People aged 40 to 55 are more prone to experiencing heartburn because of the consumption of milk at night. Drinking milk regularly, perhaps every other day and preferably in the morning, may be better than consuming it daily.

Apart from these, another possible cause of heartburn, this time in women, is the menstrual cycle. At this time, resistance is lowered, and there is general weakness in the body. They will also feel abdominal pain due to dysmenorrhea simultaneous with the pain they are experiencing from heartburn.

Treatment for heartburn at night:

There is no particular treatment available for curing heartburn but there are some steps which can be followed in order to get relief from it.

When heartburn occurs, sleep with the head and shoulders elevated in order to avoid pressing on the contents of the stomach.
Sleep on your left side, because according to studies and research, sleeping on the left side will help in digestion and in the removal of the acid present in the stomach.
Also, do not wear tight-fitting clothes to bed. These types of clothes will squeeze the abdomen, resulting in heartburn.
In addition, after eating and before going to bed, avoid smoking as this may affect acidity in the stomach.
If you are overweight, then try losing weight because obesity aggravates the condition of heartburn.
Before going to bed, it is better to sit in an upright position for some time and engage in some relaxation exercises to avoid heartburn.