Reflux - Laying right vs. left side

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

I was having a discussion yesterday with a friend and we were talking about reflux. I know that with reflux you should lay on your left side to prevent it, but she said laying on the right side will aid digestion. With my brain still being fried from the NCLEX last week, I couldn't remember if she was right or not. Any input?

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

Man, I'm surprised there's no answer here.

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I have no life until I get my NCLEX results, lol.....so I did some research for you! Lifted this from NCBI / PubMed:

"Body position affects recumbent postprandial reflux.

Katz LC, Just R, Castell DO.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

There is a lack of consensus as to whether there is a difference in the amount of gastroesophageal reflux when lying with the right versus the left side down. In an attempt to answer this question we conducted a two-part study. The first consisted of a questionnaire distributed to 103 gastroenterologists with a special interest in the esophagus. The second was a randomized study in 20 normal subjects given a high-fat meal to induce reflux. Postprandial reflux was monitored by esophageal pH testing for 4 h after random assignment to either the left or right lateral decubitus position (left or right side down) on different days. Of the 87 gastroenterologists responding to our survey, 45 were uncertain as to which position was associated with worse reflux. Among the 42 who did specify, 27 (64%) favored the right lateral decubitus position as associated with more reflux symptoms. The direct comparison of the two positions demonstrated that the total amount of reflux time was significantly (p

So the upshot is...stay on the left, although if you wound up with the pt on their right, they'll reflux a bit more but statistically it won't matter a whit. Unless, of course, you're the PATIENT, lol....I'd want to be on my left

Edited to add: if your friend's theory was that it would aid digestion to sleep on right side, she's wrong. Your theory wins ?

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.

Laying on your right side would hasten gastric emptying, but laying on your left keeps gastric contents from backing up thru the cardiac sphincter causing heartburn or reflux. I know if I'm nauseated I always lay on my left side.

I didn't even answer your question, did I?!

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truern said:
Laying on your right side would hasten gastric emptying, but laying on your left keeps gastric contents from backing up through the cardiac sphincter causing heartburn or reflux. I know if I'm nauseated I always lay on my left side.

I didn't even answer your question, did I?!

LOL....don't worry, I did! Hey, you following me?

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Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
RNs2BRwe said:
LOL....don't worry, I did! Hey, you following me?

It would appear so.?

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

Thanks guys!

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I have severe reflux. Its much worse if I lay on my right side than on my left, if thats any help to you....

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Specializes in Cardiac.
truern said:
Laying on your right side would hasten gastric emptying, but laying on your left keeps gastric contents from backing up through the cardiac sphincter causing heartburn or reflux.

Or causing aspiration.

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Specializes in LTAC, Telemetry, Thoracic Surgery, ED.

I agree with the others....as a person with nasty reflux, I always feel better laying on my left side.

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MAnurseHopeful said:
I agree with the others....as a person with nasty reflux, I always feel better laying on my left side.

I agree. If I have heartburn when I lie down, laying on my left side eases it!

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