Have Dinner Earlier
Having dinner, especially a big meal, right before the bedtime may make it more difficult to fall asleep due to indigestion and heartburn. Therefore, it is better to avoid eating or drinking anything at least 2 to 3 hours before sleeping. Ideally, you should finish dinner by 6 or 7 p.m. Also, try having smaller meals rather than big ones that can make the digestive system work too much. You should also avoid consuming triggers, such as spicy foods, caffeinated drinks, insoluble fiber, sugar, and lactose. In case you feel hungry at night, consider having a small snack. [3]
Find a Suitable Sleep Positions
Not all sleep positions are suitable for people with ulcerative colitis. In fact, you would feel more comfortable when sleeping on the right or left side, depending on the symptoms or which part of the intestinal tract is affected by the disease. Therefore, when flares occur and make you feel pain, try a different position to see whether symptoms improve. Sleeping on the back can help as well. However, you should keep a sleep journal and note your sleep position to find the most suitable one for your condition. [4]
