A change in lifestyle could help control acid reflux without medications. A healthy lifestyle would mean having dinner about 4 hours before bedtime and drinking only water in-between. Having a light dinner with elimination of fried and fatty foods would help to settle and empty the stomach before you go to a horizontal position that triggers acid reflux. It would greatly help to avoid caffeine in tea and coffee, nicotine in tobacco and cigarettes, chocolate, mint and alcohol at least 4 hours before bedtime.

It would be highly beneficial to elevate the head of the bed with books or cinder blocks. This would help elevate your esophagus and throat above the level of your stomach. However sleeping with extra pillows would not help, but only lead to stiff neck and poor quality of sleep at night. It would greatly help to reduce weight if you are overweight or obese.