Washington (GNP): Elon Musk has access to some of the world’s most expensive mattresses and sleep technology, yet his fix for nighttime acid reflux is far simpler: a pile of books under the head of his bed.
Musk has said he sleeps with the head end slightly raised, and he claims the position helps with digestion and reflux. He explained the idea in an online post during a discussion about nighttime reflux.
The habit may sound eccentric, but the principle behind it matches medical guidance. Acid reflux happens when stomach contents flow back into the oesophagus, and symptoms can worsen when a person lies flat because gravity no longer helps keep those contents down.
That is why the American College of Gastroenterology recommends raising the head of the bed for people with nighttime reflux symptoms. It advises an elevation of about 6 to 10 inches, preferably with an under-mattress wedge.
Research cited by the College supports the advice. It has found that raising the head of the bed with blocks or foam wedges can ease nighttime symptoms and reduce oesophageal acid exposure.
This means Musk’s basic principle, sleeping on an incline and not flat, is more than a celebrity wellness theory. The books themselves, however, offer no special medical benefit.
The method also matters. Stacking pillows under the head may not give the same result, because it can bend the body and does not create a gradual slope from the upper body downward.
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The College specifically notes that pillows are not an effective substitute for raising the head of the bed. Medical guidance instead points to lifting the entire upper end of the bed or using a suitable wedge.
Musk’s choice of books does suit him. He has often spoken about his love of reading and has credited books with teaching him subjects such as rocket science.
Even so, it is gravity that may reduce nighttime reflux, not the books holding up his bed.
Musk said, “The whole bed should have a slight downward tilt towards your feet.”
