First of all, you'll need to identify for sure if it's acid reflux. Here's how you tell. If you're laying there and you feel a burning in your throat, or if your stomach is upset, or you keep tasting the dinner you had earlier, there's a good chance you're suffering from acid reflux.
If it's a severe case, you may actually find yourself awoken from a deep sleep by choking or otherwise not being able to breathe. This can be accompanied by anxiety or even asthma. Other acid reflux sufferers have encountered this problem. If it happens, knowing that it may be acid reflux gives you a chance to quickly do something about it.
First of all, try to isolate what foods are causing your acid reflux. You may need to keep a journal, and each time you either can't sleep or you can't breathe, make a note of what you ate in the past 24 hours. Look for any corresponding patterns and then minimize or eliminate that type of food you had.
Second, don't lie flat. It's usually more comfortable to lay back in bed, but you'll have gravity working against you, as that acid in your stomach will work it's way back up the esophagus. Be sure to keep yourself upright and the acid in your stomach is more likely to stay down.
You can do this in bed by raising the head of your bed about 4 to 6 inches. The best way is to put blocks under the legs of your bed (make sure to keep it stable) or put a wedge under the mattress at the head of the bed. Placing your head on extra pillows may not work, as they often have a way of slipping out. Keeping the head of your bed is a good way to minimize the acid reflux from returning.
Third, be sure to stay hydrated. The body is mostly water, so make sure to get at least 8 glasses of water a day as it helps bodily functions.
Fourth, minimize any stress in your life. Oftentimes, if we stress over something, it comes back to haunt us in the middle of the night. Sleep is helpful because this is the time where our mind can ponder on things, or our mind can run stressful scenarios over and over. It's easy to say, "just get rid of stress" but it may not be easy to do. Try things like listening to calm music, going for a walk, work on a (new) hobby, meditating, or just being alone for a while. By minimizing stress, you'll be minimizing the conditions that allow acid reflux to thrive.
Keep in mind that if you get woken up in the middle of the night from acid reflux, doing these things may offer the relief you're looking for. Just like it did for me.
This is not intended to replace medical advice. If you suffer from a medical problem, it is best to see your doctor and together explore the options available to you.
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