Combat GERD With An Adjustable Bed

Feeling the Burn? An Adjustable Can Help.

Adjustable beds are designed to make sleeping and relaxing in bed more comfortable. But can they help with acid reflux or GERD? Yes! There are several models that provide just the right positioning to help you avoid nighttime heartburn and keep acid reflux to a minimum when you’re sleeping.

Before we get into manufacturers and models of the best adjustable beds to combat GERD, it’s important to understand what’s going on when you have acid reflux.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is when your stomach acids move up into the upper esophagus and/or throat. The acids, which are meant to stay in the stomach, leak into the esophagus and then travel up toward the throat. It can create a burning sensation that’s very uncomfortable, and it’s where the term heartburn comes from.

Why is Heartburn More Common When Sleeping?

When you’re standing, your stomach acids will find it quite difficult to travel up against gravity into your throat. Therefore, acids rarely go through the esophageal sphincter and into the esophagus when you’re standing or in an upright position because they’re fighting a losing battle.

When you’re sleeping in a flat position or on your right side, acids can easily go move up through the esophageal sphincter and into the upper esophagus. Gravity isn’t helping you out. In fact, it’s making it worse. It’s helping the acids to flow up.

When this acid reflux occurs at night, especially when you’re asleep, it’s called nighttime heartburn.

How Can You Treat Nighttime Heartburn?

Medical professionals suggest two corrective sleeping postures to prevent acid reflux or Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). They are:

• For back-sleepers: sleep at an incline with your upper body elevated about 6 to 8 inches above your lower body. This will prevent your stomach acid from traveling up your throat because gravity will help to keep it down.
• For side-sleepers: Don’t sleep on your right side. Instead, sleep on your left. If you can sleep on your left side at an incline as well, it is even better.

Can Sleeping On An Adjustable Bed Help Reduce GERD Symptoms?

Yes! Many adjustable beds can help you find relief from the dreaded nighttime heartburn. All adjustables offer you the chance to sleep with your head elevated, but the ones that you’ll really love are the models that allow you to tip just the head portion or those that can actually tilt up.

Which are the Best Adjustable Bases for Heartburn?

The Ergo-Pedic iTilt Incline Therapy Adjustable Bed and the Reverie R650 Dual-Tilt Adjustable Power Base are both excellent options for individuals who suffer from GERD. These beds feature adjustable bases that allow you to elevate your head and upper body, which can help reduce the symptoms of GERD such as heartburn, acid reflux, and discomfort during sleep.

The Ergo-Pedic iTilt offers a unique feature called the iTilt technology. The bed's unique iTilt technology allows you to adjust the bed's position up to 12 degrees, providing comfortable and supportive positioning to alleviate discomfort and promote better sleep.

The Reverie R650 is a highly versatile bed that offers a wide range of benefits for those who deal with various sleep issues. Its unique dual-tilt design allows you to adjust both the head and foot of the bed independently, providing a customizable sleep experience.

If you have any questions about adjustable bases and how they can help you, don’t hesitate to give us a call or reach out online through info@bedplanet.com. We’re happy to help and know that we can find you a base that can help with your nighttime heartburn.

You can also check out our Adjustable Base Buying Guide.