Sleeping too flat may do more than disrupt comfort. It could worsen acid reflux into your throat, experts say.
- Low pillow height is a major independent risk factor for throat reflux in GERD patients
- Simple habits like elevating the head during sleep and avoiding lying down after meals may reduce symptoms
- A six-factor predictive model demonstrates strong accuracy in identifying GERD patients at high risk for LPR
A new study discovered that sleeping with a low pillow height is highly associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disorder (GERD). This finding could potentially improve symptom control and quality of life for millions of sufferers worldwide Raising Your Pillow Might Ease Reflux Symptoms.
Sleeping Position May Play a Critical Role in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)
The study, conducted at Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College in China, examined 323 GERD patients and 225 healthy controls to investigate lifestyle and behavioral factors that increase the risk of LPR, a condition in which stomach acid enters the throat, causing hoarseness, chronic cough, and throat irritation.
Among GERD patients, 131 had LPR, while 192 had only GERD. The researchers analysed numerous lifestyle factors, including nutrition, mealtime, stress, and sleep patterns. Notably, low pillow height was identified as the biggest independent risk factor for developing LPR among GERD patients.
Other characteristics were lying down soon after meals, nervousness, eating too quickly, overeating, and a high-fat diet. However, none had as significant an impact as pillow height.
Predictive Model for Identifying High-Risk Patients
Using these critical characteristics, the team created a six-factor predictive model with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.775, showing great accuracy in identifying GERD patients who are at high risk of developing LPR.
Sedated upper endoscopy, along with laryngeal examination, was useful in identifying inflammation associated with reflux, suggesting its use in clinical assessment.
Implications for Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) Management
GERD paired with LPR is notoriously difficult to treat, frequently responding poorly to treatment and adding to anxiety and a lower quality of life. The data imply that modest, non-pharmacological interventions, such as raising the pillow height and avoiding supine rest after meals, could significantly reduce symptoms.
Reference:
- Low pillow height is associated with LPR among patients with GERD: a retrospective single-center study - (https://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12876-025-04367-z)
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