To control night time acid reflux you'll need to put gravity to work for you. Elevating the head alone won’t do the trick. The Slant does what pillows can’t. It works like a hospital bed to keep your whole torso gently elevated, providing the ideal comfort sleep surface so you can get a good nights sleep. Especially recommended in pregnancy as a safe, natural addition to nighttime acid reflux.
- Available in 5” and 8” elevationa and in dual widths of 30” and 38” (king and queen size).
What is GERD?
GERD is the acronym for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder. The esophagus is not designed to handle the strong acid produced in the stomach. When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, symptoms of burning, coughing and bad taste in the throat occur.
What causes GERD?
When you swallow, food goes from your mouth to the stomach through the esophagus, or food tube. Your stomach produces hydrochloric acid to start the digestive process. The stomach has special acid resistant cells lining the area and produces a mucous layer to provide a further barrier to the acid.
The esophagus can be damaged by acid, but doesn't normally need special protection, since food is kept in the stomach by:
1. The muscular ring at its bottom and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When this muscle doesn't work properly, it is called an incompetent or dysfunctional LES.
2. The "one-way valve" effect of the diaphragm and esophago-gastric junction. If the opening in the diaphragm (the esophageal hiatus) weakens, the stomach can slide through it into the chest cavity resulting in a hiatal hernia. Acid then freely sloshes into the esophagus.
3. When your head is higher than your stomach, simple gravity helps keep acid and food from entering the esophagus. Putting your head down or increasing stomach pressure can force food the back up, even in people without GERD.
Despite treatment, some GERD sufferers continue to have symptoms at night. Some of the reasons for this are
· We tend to eat our biggest meal at night.
· We're more likely to consume alcohol in the evening.
· Some medications may wear off during the night.
· The protective effect of gravity is lost in the sleep position.
Is GERD dangerous?
Untreated, GERD can kill. It leads to erosive esophagitis, or Barrett's esophagus. Persistent erosive esophagitis is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
Does sleeping elevated help anything besides GERD?
Yes.
Heart disease
Elevation of the body can aid several conditions. People who have high blood pressure or weak hearts can retain fluid in the body which can build up in the lungs during sleep. Doctors use the term orthopnea to describe the discomfort felt when lying flat in bed. They often talk about one, two or three pillow orthopnea to indicate the severity of the condition. However, spending a whole night elevated on several pillows present problems. There is no standard height or firmness to pillows, so one person's "one pillow" may be another's "three pillow." Also, the pillows never stay put, so the height is too unreliable to be considered uniformly safe and effective. Finally, the neck and back can be put at a disadvantageous position leading to morning pain and stiffness. The Avana™ Slant addresses all of these problems with one safe, simple and effective solution.
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