Adjustable Beds for Acid Reflux

This guide explores how adjustable beds can relieve acid reflux symptoms for a better night’s sleep. We also suggest our top picks for adjustable beds in-store.

Acid reflux, also known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), is a common digestive disorder. It happens when stomach acid leaks up into the oesophagus (gullet). If you’re affected by this condition you’re likely familiar with uncomfortable symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, or difficulty swallowing.

Why acid reflux worsens at night

When you lie down, do you find that your acid reflux symptoms can seem worse? This is because gravity is no longer helping to move those acids back down the oesophagus and through your digestive system. Lying flat can worsen symptoms, making it harder to fall asleep and all but ensuring a disrupted, uncomfortable night.

While some lifestyle changes and medications can help to manage acid reflux (The NHS has some simple Do’s and Don’t’s recommendations), one solution that is often overlooked is an adjustable bed.

What is an adjustable bed?

An adjustable bed can be raised and lowered electronically, allowing you to sleep in a comfortable position. They are also known as electric beds, mobility beds, or reclining beds. They have a hinged mattress platform that can be adjusted to different angles, allowing you to elevate your legs, raise the head, upper body and back, or a combination of both areas.

Some adjustable beds have two motors, allowing you to adjust each side of the bed independently. You can control the bed with a remote control or buttons.

When you understand how your sleeping position influences acid reflux, you’ll see how an adjustable bed can be an effective solution.

Tips for Managing Acid Reflux
While an adjustable bed can be a helpful tool in managing acid reflux, there are other lifestyle changes that can also be beneficial to help acid reflux and heartburn, such as eating smaller meals more frequently and avoid eating before going to bed.

The best and worst sleep positions for acid reflux

Various scientific studies have shown that your sleeping position can impact acid reflux symptoms (this multi-author paper about sleeping position published in 2023, for example, or this one about sleep positional therapy, also from 2023). We now know, for example, that sleeping on your stomach or your right side can worsen your symptoms. Sleeping this way increases stomach pressure and relaxes the muscles that prevent acid reflux.

By contrast, elevating your sleeping position can help gravity keep stomach acids where they belong and helps to reduce or prevent acid reflux. Unfortunately, simply stacking up pillows isn’t recommended by healthcare professionals because it tends to raise just your head and neck. This can actually increase the pressure on your stomach and make symptoms worse, as well as leading to back or neck pain.

The best way to elevate your position is to raise your whole torso, which is exactly what an adjustable bed mattress does. It’s much harder then for stomach acid to travel back up the oesophagus.

How to choose a mattress for acid reflux

When choosing an adjustable bed to help with acid reflux, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some key factors to consider:

Angle of elevation: Seek a bed that enables you to elevate the head section to a minimum of 30 degrees, as this position has proven beneficial in alleviating symptoms of acid reflux.
Long-term durability: Like any furniture investment, choose a durable, high-quality bed to ensure long-term comfort and reliability.
Comfort: It should probably go without saying, but make sure you thoroughly test the mattress for comfort before purchase. It’s an important investment, so a great night's sleep is a priority.
Pre-set positions: Adjustable beds with programmable or pre-set positions enable you to quickly switch to the angle that works best to relieve your acid reflux symptoms
Reliable motor: A quiet, reliable motor will help to ensure that changing positions during the night shouldn’t disrupt you too much. Opt for models with a Bluetooth-enabled handset for seamless adjustments.
Massage option: The gentle vibrations of an adjustable bed with a massage option can promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve circulation, all of which can contribute to better digestion and alleviate acid reflux symptoms.
Price: A good bed specialist will stock a wide variety of adjustable beds and mattresses to suit every budget. Keep in mind that the most expensive mattress isn’t always the best, and you might get excellent relief from acid reflux symptoms without spending a fortune. A trusted bed expert will help you choose one that’s right for your needs.
Warranty and sleep trial: An adjustable bed is an important purchase, so check warranty details carefully. High quality brands are secure in the quality of their products and offer excellent warranties – for example, Vispring beds come with a 30-year warranty. Look out for useful offers that help you choose your bed with confidence, such as the 90-day home trials available on many of our own adjustable mattresses.

Recommended adjustable beds

As everyone is so unique, it’s not easy to point to a single bed that will be suitable for everyone. However, from many years of experience and feedback from customers we've helped, we’ve picked three outstanding models from our shop that are worth looking at. As well as having features that will help to relieve acid reflux symptoms, each can be configured with different comfort options, bed size, storage, headboard and fabric choices to create a truly tailored sleep experience.

Best overall adjustable bed

Opera Motion Divan Adjustable Base

For acid reflux sufferers, the Opera Motion Divan not only provides excellent back and leg-rest adjustments and multiple pre-set positions, an upgrade option also offers a massage system with functions that include ripples, pulses and more for 10, 20 or 30 minutes.

Other optional upgrades that set this bed apart include:

Glide-back function to relieve pressure in the waist and stomach when sat up in bed
Additional pillow tilt for added ease
Under-bed light to provide gentle illumination at night.

Considering the range of features and the quality of this bed, it offers very good value, with prices starting from £1,194. Balancing price, quality and features, this makes the Opera Motion Divan Adjustable base our overall top recommendation. Find out more about this adjustable bed.

Best value adjustable bed

Highgrove Burton Adjustable Bed

The Highgrove Burton is a great-value option for an adjustable bed at the less expensive end of the market. Highgrove is very much a well-established British brand, and this bed is packed full of useful features. The price also includes a memory foam mattress for improved pressure relief and support while you sleep.

Five-fold head and foot-rest action
Reliable and quiet motor
Easy to use handset
25-stone weight capacity
Padded chrome feet – non-slip
Strong slatted base with adjustable firmness slider for lumbar region

The Highgrove Burton Adjustable Bed is priced from £798. Find out more about this bed.

Best luxury adjustable bed

Vispring Serenity Adjustable Bed

Vispring’s premium quality extends to its range of adjustable beds, and the Serenity is its finest example. It can be customised in a number of ways for ultimate support and comfort. The Serenity adjustable base is strong enough to support personal weight of up to 40 stone, in addition to the weight of any mattress in their collection. Features include:

Full 30-year Vispring guarantee
Smooth five-fold action head and foot-rest filled with Vispring signature pocket-spring system
Pocket-sprung base for optimum comfort and support
Choose from any Vispring mattress up to Tiara Superb and pair with the Serenity base
Choose a single size, or a pair of small single beds together for a king-size with 5'0 headboard or a pair of single size beds together for super king-size model.
The motor that powers the base is silent, powerful, reliable and is one of the best guaranteed options available. It’s controlled using a Bluetooth enabled remote handset.

The Vispring Sereinty Adjustable Bed is priced from £2,836. Find out more about this bed.

We’ll help you find the perfect adjustable bed…

Get in touch with our expert team to explore the best adjustable bed for your needs. Simply fill in the form below and one of our friendly team will call you or a relative at a time to suit you. We can discuss all the options and advice around acid reflux and the supportive options you can enjoy with our range of beds.

Browse our range of adjustable beds for an idea of what’s on offer.

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