Specialists Clarify What to Look For

If you’re one of many many individuals with acid reflux disease, then you understand the irritation that comes with signs like coronary heart burn and chest ache, and the way a lot they have an effect on on a regular basis duties like consuming and sleeping. In truth, while you go to mattress, you in all probability discover these signs develop into much more obvious, which is why many gastroenterologists advocate utilizing a wedge pillow to assist with acid reflux disease. The signs of acid reflux disease happen when abdomen acid travels as much as the esophagus after you eat meals and drinks, in keeping with Dr. Gulchin Ergun a board-certified gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist Leading Medicine. It occurs usually while you’re laying down and sleeping since you don’t swallow while you sleep, in keeping with Ergun. Swallowing normally removes residual acid, however since this doesn’t occur while you sleep, gravity has to do the remainder of the work.

This is why a wedge pillow will help relieve these signs — in contrast to conventional pillows, they assist elevate the higher physique, primarily the chest and throat, and maintain abdomen acid down. To be taught extra about methods to discover the most effective wedge pillows for acid reflux disease, I spoke with Ergun and different specialists about what to search for as you store.

How I picked the most effective wedge pillows for acid reflux disease

There are just a few essential components to think about when purchasing for a wedge pillow for acid reflux disease. Here is the whole lot our specialists really helpful I take into accout when making this checklist:

• Height: Since elevating the top and chest is an important a part of relieving signs of acid reflux disease when mendacity in mattress, it’s greatest to buy wedge pillows which might be not less than six to eight inches excessive, in keeping with Ergun. While an everyday pillow lifts your head, it doesn’t do as a lot as a wedge pillow on the subject of elevating your esophagus excessive sufficient to forestall acid from rising.

Additionally, Ergun recommends purchasing for a pillow that begins on the high of your stomach and lifts your chest and head. The pillow must also match comfortably on the head of the mattress, which can additionally rely upon the scale of the mattress. I made positive all the pillows within the checklist under are not less than six inches excessive.

• Firmness: While the feel and firmness of any pillow comes all the way down to choice, Ergun recommends utilizing a wedge pillow with not less than a medium firmness, since one which’s too mushy gained’t present sufficient help. “It has to be high enough to maintain that angle and you don’t want to sink into it,” says Ergun. In phrases of fabric, most wedge pillows, just like common pillows, are made out of reminiscence foam, down, or down different. Memory foam supplies strain aid and helps the physique, in keeping with different specialists I’ve spoken with up to now, however which materials you select comes all the way down to what you discover is most comfy. While top is an important issue, I made positive to incorporate wedge pillows that point out a agency texture, when attainable.

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The greatest wedge pillows for acid reflux disease

All of the merchandise under have not less than a four-star common ranking from 500 or extra buyers on Amazon or not less than 100 on their model website.

Best general wedge pillow for acid reflux disease

Material: reminiscence foam and high-density foam | Height(s): 7.5, 12 and 19 in.

What we like

• Made of two sorts of foam
• Several sizes accessible
• Has a detachable cowl

Something to notice

• Isn’t solely reminiscence foam

This wedge pillow is available in a number of heights, which lets you discover the suitable dimension on your physique and mattress dimension. It’s 7.5 inches tall, 24 inches lengthy and 24 inches broad, although there are different sizes accessible. It has a high-density foam materials on the within and reminiscence foam on the highest layer. The pillow additionally has a detachable, machine-washable cowl. It’s additionally nice for relieving again and shoulder ache (along with acid reflux disease), and it helps present help to the physique after surgical procedure, in keeping with the model. The pillow additionally has a 4.4-star common ranking from greater than 28,500 buyers on Amazon.

Best splurge wedge pillow for acid reflux disease

Material: latex | Height(s): 7 and 10 in.

What we like

• Helps with loud night breathing
• Has breathable materials
• Bacteria resistant

The Avocado wedge pillow is made out of sustainably-sourced latex materials that’s antimicrobial and hypoallergenic, in keeping with the model. It additionally comes with a detachable and machine-washable cotton cowl that repels mud mites, in keeping with the model. It additionally notes that the pillow helps with signs of acid reflux disease, loud night breathing, neck and again ache and sleep apnea. Additionally, the pillow has a 4-star common ranking from 245 evaluations. Plus, it’s additionally nice to be used as a platform for a laptop computer and for elevating your legs.

Best adjustable wedge pillow for acid reflux disease

Material: reminiscence foam and high-density foam | Height(s): 9 and 12 in.

What we like

• Has adjustable top
• Has adjustable form
• Supports legs

Something to notice

• Only accessible in two heights

This reminiscence foam wedge pillow has 10 adjustable formations, so it’s simple to seek out the suitable form to assist with acid reflux disease and different issues. With practically 3,000 five-star scores on Amazon, it helps scale back loud night breathing and again ache, it supplies help for people who find themselves pregnant and it additionally elevates your legs after surgical procedure or damage, in keeping with the model. It additionally has an adjustable strap, a deal with and a breathable, machine-washable cowl.

Best wedge pillow for acid reflux disease below $100

Material: proprietary foam | Height(s): 7, 10 and 12 in.

What we like

• Replacement covers accessible
• Helps scale back shoulder ache

Something to notice

• Nothing to notice right now

This wedge pillow, which has a 4.6-star common ranking from 579 evaluations, is on the market in three sizes and made out of proprietary high-density foam. According to the model, it helps with acid reflux disease, loud night breathing, poor circulation, shoulder ache, allergy symptoms and hiatal hernia. It additionally has a machine-washable bamboo cowl. It’s accessible in heights of seven, 10, and 12 inches, with a typical width and depth dimension of 24 inches by 24 inches.

Best reasonably priced wedge pillow for acid reflux disease

Material: high-density foam | Height(s): 10 and 12 in.

What we like

• Relieves strain factors
• Washable cowl
• Anti-slip backside

Something to notice

• Only accessible in two heights

Made from high-density foam that gives aid to strain factors on the physique, this wedge pillow maintains its form after being slept on, in keeping with the model. The cowl is detachable and mechanically cleanable and it has an anti-slip backside to forestall it from sliding round your mattress should you transfer round. It additionally has a 4.4-star common ranking from 1,356 buyers on Amazon.

How to buy wedge pillows for acid reflux disease

There are just a few essential priorities to bear in mind when purchasing for a wedge pillow to assist along with your acid reflux disease signs. Here’s what our specialists advocate:

Decide on the suitable top and size

As Ergun beforehand talked about, it’s a must to make sure that the pillow is excessive sufficient to angle the esophagus down. “Wedge pillows help by elevating the head and upper torso, not just the head,” says Dr. Heather Viola, a major care doctor at Mount Sinai Doctors-Ansonia. “This incline uses gravity to keep stomach acid from flowing back into the esophagus, which reduces nighttime heartburn and reflux symptoms.” With this in thoughts, store for a wedge pillow that’s no shorter than 6 inches, ideally not less than 7 to eight inches and as much as 12 inches, in keeping with Viola. Additionally, make sure that it’s lengthy sufficient to carry up the highest a part of your again and shoulders.

Prioritize consolation and firmness

When shopping for a wedge pillow — as with all pillow — it is best to ensure that it isn’t too mushy or too agency. With a wedge pillow, nonetheless, it’s essential that it’s extra on the medium-to-firm aspect, as this can permit it to offer help over time, in keeping with Viola. She additionally recommends a wedge pillow that mentions reminiscence foam or excessive density foam to make sure it’s supportive sufficient. Also, a breathable cowl could forestall you from overheating.

Meet our specialists

At NBC Select, we work with specialists who’ve specialised information and authority based mostly on related coaching and/or expertise. We additionally take steps to make sure all skilled recommendation and suggestions are made independently and with out undisclosed monetary conflicts of curiosity.

• Dr. Gulchin Ergun is a board-certified gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist Leading Medicine.
• Dr. Heather Viola is a board-certified major care doctor at Mount Sinai Doctors-Ansonia.

Why belief NBC Select?

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, the place I write about dwelling and kitchen merchandise, together with roundups, evaluations and guides. I additionally write about wellness and heath, together with lumbar help pillows, dangers of scorching showers and neck ache therapies. I interviewed specialists for his or her steering and included merchandise which might be extremely reviewed for this text.