The key is how your body responds.
Chapter 2: Why the Left Side May Be Better for Acid Reflux
If you frequently experience nighttime heartburn, changing your sleeping position may be one simple strategy worth trying.
The left-side sleeping position has been associated with less nighttime acid exposure in people with reflux. This is thought to happen because of the way the stomach sits in the upper abdomen.
When lying on the left side, the stomach can remain positioned below the esophagus, making it more difficult for acid to flow upward.
By contrast, lying on the right side may allow gastric contents to move toward the esophageal opening more easily in some people.
This is why some gastroenterology experts recommend trying the left side when reflux becomes a nighttime problem.
But sleeping position is only one piece of the puzzle.
Eating a large meal immediately before bed can also increase the likelihood of reflux. Alcohol, certain high-fat meals, chocolate, caffeine, peppermint, and spicy foods can trigger symptoms in some individuals.
A practical approach is to avoid lying down immediately after eating and give your stomach time to empty before going to bed.
Elevating the upper body can also help some people with nighttime reflux. A wedge pillow or raising the head of the bed is generally more effective than simply stacking several ordinary pillows, which can bend the body in a way that increases abdominal pressure.
If heartburn happens regularly—especially more than twice a week—it is worth discussing with a healthcare professional rather than simply changing sleep positions indefinitely.