Good sleeping position for people with stomach diseases

According to Dr. Le Nhat Duy, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital – Facility 3, people with stomach pain can feel pain in many different locations such as the left abdomen, the middle of the upper abdomen and spreading to the back.

This is due to many reasons. Specifically, pain shifting through the left abdomen is often related to problems such as inflammation or stomach ulcers, and can also be caused by the spleen. Pain in the middle of the upper abdomen is directly related to the stomach, often seen in cases of ulcers, reflux or antral gastritis. Pain that radiates to the back can be a sign of severe gastritis or complications of an ulcer.

Persistent pain, especially when it spreads to other areas such as the back or chest, can be a sign of dangerous complications such as perforated stomach ulcers or pancreatitis. You should see a doctor early if your pain symptoms do not decrease or get worse.

Sleeping position and daily living style greatly affect the symptoms of stomach disease. Proper lying position can help reduce pain and limit belching and stomach cramps.

Dr. Duy said the two lying positions that people with stomach diseases should take are lying on the left side and lying on the back with the head elevated.

Lie on your left side

Lying on the left side is the recommended sleeping position, because the stomach is then lower than the esophagus, limiting acid reflux. Lying on the left side also reduces pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), helping food move through the digestive system, the digestion process goes smoothly, and prevents food from stagnating. Thanks to this, patients reduce the risk of heartburn, bloating and abdominal discomfort.

Lie on your back with your head elevated

Lying on your back with your head elevated about 15-20 degrees on a pillow or bed headrest also keeps the stomach lower than the esophagus, reducing pressure on the abdomen and reducing cramping pain.

To reduce stomach pain symptoms, Dr. Duy advises that in addition to choosing a suitable sleeping position, patients should have the following healthy diet and lifestyle:

Eat small and frequent meals

Eating too much can put pressure on the stomach, increasing the risk of reflux and stomach cramps. Instead, you should eat small meals, about 4-5 meals/day.

Avoid trigger foods

Avoid eating spicy, sour, greasy foods, caffeine or alcoholic beverages because they can irritate the stomach lining, causing or worsening reflux conditions.

Don’t eat before going to bed

It is best for people with stomach disease to eat dinner at least 2-3 hours before going to bed so that the stomach has time to digest food.

Control stress

Stress can worsen stomach pain symptoms, so maintain a comfortable state of mind, participate in relaxing activities such as yoga, meditation, jogging…

Avoid lying down immediately after eating

If you need to lie down after a meal, you should lie on your left side with your head elevated to reduce the risk of reflux.

Drink enough water

Make sure to drink enough water to aid digestion, but avoid drinking too much water right before bed.

Use medication as directed

You should comply with treatment instructions from your doctor such as taking stomach lining protection drugs, acid secretion reducing drugs, do not arbitrarily stop or take over-the-counter drugs.

Implementing the above measures will help patients reduce stomach pain symptoms and improve sleep quality.