Is Heartburn Keeping You Up at Night After 60?

Have you ever lain down after dinner and felt a burning in your chest, with sour fluid creeping up your throat? After 60, that's common. It's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus. With age, the muscle valve between the stomach and esophagus weakens, and hiatal hernia becomes more common, so reflux happens more easily. Signs it may be reflux A burning feeling in the chest, worse when lying down or after meals Sour-tasting burps, a lump-in-the-throat feeling Chronic cough or hoarseness Trouble swallowing What you can do at home Start with eating habits. Eat smaller meals instead of large ones, and stop eating 2 to 3 hours before bed — a late-night snack is the most common trigger. Raising the head of your bed by 6 to 8 inches helps (tilting the bed itself works better than stacking pillows). Cut back on spicy or fatty foods, coffee, alcohol, and chocolate. Losing a little weight helps too, if you've gained. Antacids (like Tums) bring fast relief but only calm the symptoms — they don't fix the cause. Acid-reducing medicines (PPIs, H2 blockers) are stronger, but long-term use should be discussed with your doctor. See a doctor if Swallowing is difficult or painful You're losing weight without trying You vomit blood or pass black stools You have chest pain (it must be distinguished from a heart problem — get checked right away) Heartburn strikes more than twice a week, or two weeks of medicine brings no improvement Nighttime heartburn usually improves a lot with lifestyle changes. Starting tonight, skipping that bedtime snack alone could change your mornings. Reference: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), "Acid Reflux (GER & GERD) in Adults" — symptoms often worsen when lying down; lifestyle changes are first-line treatment.

Everyday Items That Support the Habits in This Post

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Nothing below treats or cures GERD. These items support the habits in this post — smaller meals, earlier dinners, and elevating the head of the bed. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting acid-reducing medicine.

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