Sleeping on left side may help heartburn

A few days ago, I mentioned that certain instances of heartburn may be related to the consumption of a high-glycemic-index diet. So, if cutting back on the bagels and sweets hasn't offered any relief, maybe the following tip from the Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia will.

Addressing the problem some 60 million Americans face, the researchers uncovered a very simple solution to the sleep troubles many people with heartburn suffer from nightly. What is that simple solution? Sleeping on your left side.

Sleeping on your right side may worsen heartburn symptoms, chiefly because it takes longer for the acid to clear out of your esophagus. Sleeping on your left side, by contrast, seemingly prevents acid from entering into the esophagus in the first place. Because the tube-like passage curves slightly as it enters the stomach, sleeping on your left side creates a sharper angle in the passage, thereby preventing the entry of rising acids.

While this may not be the hearburn cure you wer hoping for, it may help you to at least get a good night's sleep.