People who suffer from gastroesophageal acid reflux disease (GERD) are often advised to leave at least 3 hours between their evening meal and going to bed. That interval, it is thought, reduces the chances of being troubled by nighttime heartburn—lying down with a full stomach practically invites stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. Now, a new study seems to support the early-dinner recommendation. Researchers looked at the meal-to-bed intervals of GERD sufferers and of a similar group of people without the condition. They found that study participants who turned out the lights within 3 hours of eating were about 7 times more likely to suffer reflux than those who waited 4 hours or more.

(American Journal of Gastroenterology)