Lifestyle factors affecting GERD symptoms - Japan study

Here is a couple of things that we can do to improve our situation with GERD maybe...
A Japan study “Lifestyle factors affecting gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: a cross-sectional study of healthy 19864 adults using FSSG scores” finds two important things:

1) Sleep quality is essential for GERD treating (unfortunately i can’t find exact how long one should sleep in the case of GERD)
It is well-known that nighttime GERD symptoms are the crucial cause of sleep disorders [32,33], but recent studies also suggested that a link between sleep problems and GERD might be bidirectional, for example, due to the influence of sleep stages on esophago-upper esophageal sphincter contractile reflex [34] or due to reinforcing perception of intra-esophageal acid [35]. Therefore, improving quality of sleep might be essential for relieving GERD symptoms.
(maybe that is why melatonin is promising for treating of GERD?)

2) Eating habits – not what you eat, but how you eat!
Accordingly, such dietary habits as the following should be avoided:
1) having dinner a few hours before going to bed (>3 hours),
2) the habit of eating a midnight snack,
3) frequently going without breakfast, and
4) the habit of quick eating.
It should be noteworthy that these four diet-related factors present more significant effects than alcohol or smoking on GERD symptoms.

For me the two main things that is hard to manage is good sleep and early dinner. But i am working hard to improve it.

I have change all four of these and it's made a big difference for me especially the quick eating. I have slowed down and have learn to chew my food well and I enjoy it much better and I don't consume as much.

I am glad that the article seems to be interesting!

sunbeam48, yes, you're right - not a word about smaller meels...maybe big portions just don't exist in Japan? My hubby was in Japan once and he told me that he had been always hungry there.

Absolutely about the stress, recently I was going through waiting on results from a breast biopsy and then finding out I have to have a lumpectomy on the 13th of May along with dealing with this GERD. It was all starting to get to me and I too know what you mean Haley about feeling the rise of acid in the mist of all that stress.

So I had to do what I do best and that was to pray and not worry anymore, and let me tell you praying about it really helped me. Now I do still have thoughts about the whole situation, but I have found myself being more calmer about it and not stressing myself silly.

I have heard some say stress does not affect GERD, but I disagree with that because I am living proof that it can. :)