Acid Reflux Symptom
Acid reflux pillows are one form of treatment for GERD, also known as acid reflux.
Acid Reflux Symptom
A sufferer from GERD will experience the flow of acid going from the stomach into the oesophagus. This is because the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is supposed to keep the acid from escaping the stomach, prevents the acid from passing through it.
Acid Reflux Symptom
The symptoms of this escaping acid are heartburn and they are particularly bad at night time in bed, because the stomach acid does not have to fight against gravity to reach the oesophagus. We shall see soon that this is where acid reflux pillows can be very effective.
Acid Reflux Symptom
Many GERD sufferers toss and turn all night and frequently wake up. Often they must raise their head until they are sitting upright to alleviate the symptoms. Their partners are also affected so GERD can create misery for the entire family.
Acid reflux pillows work by elevating the head and neck slightly above the torso and rest of the body. In this way, stomach acid has to fight against gravity to reach the LES and pass through it to the oesophagus, which is where the painful sensation is felt.
They are made from all sorts of materials from foam to plastic. The best acid reflux pillows will inflate so they can be adjusted to the person using them. They will also provide good spine and lumbar support as well as simply raising the head and neck.
However, acid reflux pillows, whilst offering relief, are not the be all and end all when it comes to controlling your GERD symptoms. This is because GERD symptoms are experienced even in standing and sitting positions. The escape of stomach acid is often accompanied by the release of gas during belching/burping which aid the process. So, even when acid has to fight against gravity, it can still make its way out of the stomach and into the oesophagus.
Acid reflux pillows do work to some extent at relieving the symptoms of GERD but this condition should be treated under medical supervision because it can potentially become more serious in the long term. If you suffer from GERD or frequent heartburn, I highly recommend that you speak to your doctor and do your research to consider ways of curing it completely.
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