Heartburn at night due to GERD

Dear Ask The Doctor: Typically I'm going to bed between 9:30 and 11:00. If I eat after 7pm, I wake up in the night with heartburn and feel nauseous and then I have diarrah. What could be causing this?

Dear Scott: The symptoms you describe may suggest gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. A certain amount of reflux of gastric contents is normal after eating, but this is normally short-lived, asymptomatic, and rarely occurs during sleep. Abnormal reflux is associated with symptoms such as retrosternal chest pain, nausea, heartburn, waterbrash and it often includes noctural episodes. Lifestyle modifications may help to reduce reflux symptoms including: Head of bed elevation, dietary modifications, weight loss, restriction of alcohol and cessation of smoking.I would advise attending your family doctor for correct diagnosis, if symptoms do not improve with lifestyle modifications.