Based on my conversation with a friend who is a doctor I compiled a simple strategy on how to manage nighttime heartburn symptoms occurring every day for prolonged period of time.
Option 1: Use PPIs – if it works you’re done. Most people stay with this option until it stops working (I have no idea why – but I heard from lots of people that PPIs stop for them working after several years). Just make sure to read recent safety reports about PPIs – there were some changes in it in 2010.
Option 2: Use plan below to get rid of constant nighttime heartburn.
1) Find all food triggers for your heartburn and remove them from your diet. This included but is not limited to alcholol, chocolate, caffeine, acidic food (if you have doubts about any food acidity just exclude it – you can also use acidity database on this site). It is better to exclude all foods that you have doubts in rather than suffer nighttime heartburn.
2) Make your last meal very simple and plain. I use steamed rice with butter in this case. Simple meal will make your stomach produce only tiny amount of acid before the night and reduce irritation.
3) Last meal should be at least 3 hours before going to sleep.
4) Make sure you’re not hungry through the day and especially before going to sleep. This doesn’t mean you need to eat right before going to bed. It means that you have to eat through the day to get all the calories you need. Since your last meal is going to be simple you will need to consume more food during the day. Just eat some snacks to compensate loss of calories.
5) As a bonus you should get anti heartburn propup pillow. It will help you a lot in your efforts.
Plan above works like a clock to me. It just takes willpower to stick to it.
You can also learn how to stop heartburn at stopheartburnguide.com.
Good luck!