Sleeping on a wedge pillow benefits your joints, muscles, and whole body in general. Let’s discuss just a few ways a wedge pillow can help you.
Benefit #1: Combatting acid reflux
The first benefit of sleeping on a triangle wedge pillow is its ability to combat GERD and acid reflux. By elevating your upper body at least 7’’ on an incline wedge, you make it substantially harder for stomach acid to backflow into your esophagus. An incline pillow will give you immediate relief and improved sleep quality. Whether you suffer from hiatal hernia, GERD, or acid reflux, a wedge pillow can help.
Benefit #2: Decreasing sinus drainage
The second benefit of sleeping on a wedge pillow is its ability to decrease sinus drainage. Because your head is elevated, your sinuses drain with the assistance of gravity. This in turn improves your overall breathing quality. For anyone with asthma, allergies, sinus troubles or breathing difficulties, try sleeping on a wedge pillow!
Benefit #3: Alleviating sleep apnea and snoring
The third of many benefits of sleeping on a wedge pillow is it can assist with sleep apnea and decrease snoring. Look for a contoured upper body wedge which will support your torso fully so you can sleep comfortably on your side. Sleeping elevated and on your side positions your throat muscles in a way that can lessen snoring and improve breathing quality.
Benefit #4: Relieving back pain
A fourth benefit of sleeping on a wedge pillow will highlight the use of a knee wedge pillow. An under knee wedge pillow will support your legs while sleeping on your back. Sleeping with your legs elevated at least 8 inches will relieve back discomfort and pain. Even if you are not currently experiencing back discomfort, you should never sleep flat on your back because of the strain it puts on your lower spine.
Benefit #5: Improving circulation and decreasing swelling
Finally, the fifth benefit of sleeping on a wedge pillow is its ability to reduce swelling and improve circulation. A leg elevation pillow that is contoured will comfortably cradle your legs above your heart and allow gravity to assist the fluid out of your legs. You can elevate for 15 minutes at a time or rest on your pillow all night and feel the difference it makes in your legs.
A wedge pillow is an effective, all-natural home remedy for many different conditions. There are so many wedge pillow benefits, hopefully you can take what you learned and figure out which wedge pillow or pillows are right for you!
-Hillary Blare, Doctor of Physical Therapy