How side sleeping can help with heartburn

Sleeping on your back can also increase acid reflux. This causes that telltale burning in your chest known as heartburn, which, when left untreated, can lead to ulcers, swallowing difficulties, a protrusion of the stomach through the diaphragm known as a hiatal hernia, and can even increase your risk of esophageal cancer. 

Research shows that side sleeping helps prevent heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by positioning the esophagus above the stomach so it'