Elon Musk has revealed an unusual solution to a common nighttime problem: he uses books to raise the head of his bed, creating a slight incline that he says helps with digestion and acid reflux.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO shared the habit on X while responding to a discussion about nighttime reflux.
“The whole bed should have a slight downward tilt towards your feet,” Musk wrote.
While using books to raise a bed may sound unconventional, the principle behind the practice is not new. Raising the upper end of the bed can help reduce nighttime acid reflux by using gravity to keep stomach contents from moving back towards the oesophagus.
How raising the bed may help reflux
Acid reflux occurs when stomach contents flow back into the oesophagus. Symptoms can become worse at night because lying flat removes some of the assistance gravity provides in keeping stomach contents in the stomach.
Dr Loai Albarqouni, an associate professor of evidence-based medicine at Bond University, told the Daily Mail that raising the head of the bed above the level of the stomach can help gravity work in favour of people experiencing nighttime reflux.
Research has also examined head-of-bed elevation as a method of reducing symptoms associated with nighttime acid reflux.
However, that does not mean that using a stack of books is necessarily the most practical approach.
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Why pillows may not provide the same effect
Simply placing several pillows under the head may not produce the same result as raising the entire upper end of the bed.
Pillows can bend the body at the waist or neck rather than creating a gradual incline from the upper body. Purpose-built bed risers or a wedge designed for people with reflux are commonly used alternatives.
The key factor is therefore the gradual elevation of the upper part of the body rather than the material used to create the incline.
Books have a special connection to Musk
Musk’s choice of books is particularly fitting given his long-standing interest in reading.
He has previously spoken about reading extensively as a child and has credited books with helping him teach himself about rockets before he founded SpaceX.
In this case, however, the books themselves are not providing any special health benefit.
It is the elevated position of the bed that may help reduce nighttime reflux symptoms, while the books are simply serving as an improvised way to create that incline.
