There are many effective treatments for acid reflux disease that minimize its impact without surgery. The disease, which affects millions of people in the Western world, occurs when the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach starts to fail, allowing material in the stomach to move back up into the esophagus. The acidic stomach material then causes damage to the esophagus. There are several lifestyle changes sufferers can make that are clinically proven to help control the disease. While they might not be effective for everyone, many of these treatments are surprisingly simple. Others are more challenging. Ultimately, however, lifestyle changes are usually better than surgery, especially for people with mild symptoms. One simple thing sufferers can do is to elevate the head of their bed. Elevating the bed lessens the amount of material that leaks out of the stomach while sleeping, reducing both the discomfort and the long-term impact of stomach acids. Clinical studies have demonstrated that elevating the head of the bed is effective when blocks are inserted under the front legs of the bed to raise it at least six inches. Another simple and clinically proven treatment is to sleep on the left side of the body. This is technique is effective because the esophagus connects to the stomach on the right side of the stomach. When a patient sleeps on their right side, the esophagus is at the bottom of the stomach, so more acids leak into it. Sleeping on the left side, on the other hand, puts the esophagus at the top of the stomach while sleeping, preventing leakage of its contents. Eating produces stomach acids. The more a person eats, the greater the volume of stomach acids produced, so eating smaller meals more often reduces the effects of the disease. Also, eating well before going to bed prevents excessive stomach acids from getting into the esophagus while sleeping. Other lifestyle changes may be more challenging for sufferers. Both smoking and obesity exacerbate the disease. Doctors strongly recommend that overweight people that suffer from the disease lose weight and that smokers quit. Although both of these solutions are more difficult, they also have health benefits well beyond controlling acid reflux. Ultimately, the disease may require surgery. However, in the short term, lifestyle changes are an effective way to reduce the impact of acid reflux.