Best Pillow For Acid Reflux

By: 
Tom Qiao
 | 
Updated: 
March 26, 2022

Introduction

Do you often feel a burning sensation in your stomach before going to bed? Do stomach pains keep you up all night?
If so, you might be suffering from acid reflux. If acid reflux persists, you might get scars and lacerations in our stomach or esophagus.

This can make swallowing and eating difficult in the long run. Acid reflux can prevent also you from catching a good night’s sleep. Did you know that you can minimize some of the pain you suffer from acid reflux by finding a good pillow that targets acid reflux? Here are some of the best pillows for acid reflux.

Product Review

1. Xtreme Comfort XW Wedge Pillow

Xtreme Comfort XW Wedge Pillow

The XW Wedge Pillow is made of body active memory foam, which is supportive and malleable. It can give you consistent support for your back, ensuring that you keep the contents of your stomach down. It also has a bamboo cover, which makes it hypoallergenic, breathable, and fragrant, allowing you to have a good night’s sleep.

PROS
  • Xtreme Comfort is a trusted and well-known brand so you can ensure the quality of your pillow
  • The pillow is made entirely of memory foam which means it can absorb pressure from your body making the inclined position comfortable to sleep in and also ensuring keeping the contents of your stomach down
  • The bamboo cover is breathable and hypoallergenic allowing you to sleep without worrying about allergens or sweat
  • The bamboo pillowcase can be machine washed so your pillow remains hygienic
CONS
  • The support does not last the entire night so you might still suffer from acid reflux
  • The strong chemical smell from the bamboo pillowcase might wake you up at night
  • The fabric cover sheds making it uncomfortable to sleep in after some wear and tear

2. Serenilite Bed Wedge Pillow

Serenilite Bed Wedge Pillow

Acid reflux sufferers are encouraged to sleep with their stomach below their esophagus - meaning on their back or on their side. The Serenilite Bed Wedge Pillow has a 9" elevation that is comfortable to sleep on your back or side. The low incline is also good if you are not used to lying on a wedge pillow.

It is primarily made of polyurethane foam and has a 1.25" layer of memory foam on one side. Since the memory foam contours to the body well, it discourages sleep characterized by tossing and turning in the middle of the night. Also, since it has a firmer base, you can maintain your elevation and keep your stomach contents down.

PROS
  • The low elevation can support back and side sleepers positions which can be good for acid reflux sufferers
  • The breathable and hypoallergenic bamboo pillow cover ensures you can sleep well without worrying about hot temperatures or allergens
  • The pillow is odorless which does not stimulate your nose and allows you to sleep immediately
CONS
  • The memory foam layer is only on one side so when you wear that side out you may not sleep as comfortably on the wedge as compared to when it was brand new
  • The company does not have a huge trust rating in the market yet so the quality of the product is not proven yet

3. Original Bamboo Wedge Pillow

Original Bamboo Wedge Pillow

This Original Bamboo pillow is engineered with the WonderWEDGE DESIGN, featuring a specially-crafted memory foam layer that can relieve neck, shoulder, leg, and pregnancy pains, as well as acid reflux.

This tapered memory foam is soft yet supportive - great for raising your esophagus higher than your stomach and keeping your acid reflux in control. The memory foam absorbs pressure well, so you do not have to worry about developing back pains while treating your acid reflux.

PROS
  • This can be used by back and side sleepers sleep positions that are good for acid reflux sufferers
  • The edge that touches the tailbone feels comfortable and almost invisible meaning the pillow will not lead to muscle pains despite the tapered shape
  • It uses memory foam which absorbs pressure well and allows you to sleep comfortably
  • It features a hypoallergenic pillow cover so you do not have to worry about itching that can keep you awake at night
  • It has a soft and odorless pillow cover which makes for a good night&rsquo
  • s sleep
CONS
  • The memory foam layer is only on one side so people on the heavy side may distort the wedge and not feel its benefits
  • The high elevation which is good for acid reflux sufferers might be too high for some people to sleep on
  • The size takes up the space of a single bed and is awkward for a queen-sized bed
  • The pillow takes too long to get to its full shape so you might not be able to use it immediately
  • When accidentally soiled the stain does not come off so it is not as hygienic

4 Churchill & Smith Durable Wedge Pillow

Churchill & Smith Durable Wedge Pillow

This Churchill & Smith wedge pillow features an open-cell, natural latex filling and organic cotton knit cover. The open-cell design circulates air, so it encourages sleeping on your back, which is good for when you’re trying to make sure your esophagus is higher than your stomach.

Meanwhile, the cotton knit cover ensures that your pillow will not accumulate allergens and will not make scar your throat and make your acid reflux any worse. Churchill & Smith’s signature latex quickly responds to weight and pressure, so it hits pressure points quite well.

Therefore, even when your body is inclined to keep your acid reflux down, your weight is evenly distributed to make you sleep well.

PROS
  • The breathable open-cell filling keeps you at a comfortable temperature so you can sleep well at night
  • The natural latex and organic cotton filling does not release a synthetic smell so the pillow does not overpower your sense of smell
  • It is hypoallergenic so you do not have to worry about developing allergies
CONS
  • Compared to other pillows with the same features it is more expensive
  • The pillow comes in only one size
  • It loses its shape after a tumble wash and dry so you cannot get good elevation for your stomach anymore

5. Xtra-Comfort Bed Wedge Pillow

Xtra-Comfort Bed Wedge Pillow

Xtra-Comfort’s folding memory foam wedge consists of two tapered pieces - one big, and one small. One standard elevation does not suit all acid reflux sufferers, so being able to adjust your pillow can make you manage your condition better.

This pillow also features a carry handle for traveling, so you do not have to worry about acid reflux even when you are away from home. It has a memory foam filling ensuring that your weight is supported in the proper angle without sinking too much, so you do not have to worry about acid reflux in the middle of the night.

PROS
  • The pillow height can be adjusted, good for when you want to control your acid reflux but are uncomfortable with certain elevations
  • The machine-washable cover makes the pillow hygienic to sleep on
  • The carry handle allows you to transport this pillow in order to manage your acid reflux even when you are not at home
CONS
  • The pillowcase looks cheap and sketchy so you might still want to buy another pillow cover
  • The cover is hard to remove and might accumulate dirt and allergens easily because of the material so you might develop a problem with allergies
  • The foam breaks easily so you might not be able to benefit from its wedge long term due to wear and tear
  • It takes a while to assume its shape after opening so you might not be able to use it immediately
  • Despite its carry handle the size of the pillow might not be portable enough for travel purposes

Roundup Conclusion

And the winner of his roundup is Churchill & Smith’s Durable Wedge Pillow.
First of all, Churchill & Smith’s Durable Wedge Pillow is not simply made of a flat memory foam layer. Unlike the other four pillows that use memory foam or polyurethane, Churchill & Smith’s wedge pillow uses natural latex.

Natural latex is more durable than memory foam, so you can maintain your inclined position and keep your stomach acid down all through the night. This material can also support back and side sleeping much better than memory foam. In addition, Churchill & Smith’s open-cell design circulates air better than the block structure of the other pillows.

Buying Guide

What is acid reflux?

Acid Reflux is a condition in which the contents of your stomach bubble up to your esophagus. This causes chest pain and heartburn. When the burning sensation that results from acid reflux is prolonged, it leads to a more severe condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Acid reflux can be caused by obesity, eating spicy or fatty foods, drinking alcohol, carbonated drinks, or coffee, snacking before bedtime, smoking, and even pregnancy. Another cause is a hiatal hernia, a condition in which the upper part of the stomach moves over your diaphragm, bringing your stomach and chest abnormally close.

Acid reflux is usually experienced when lying down.To treat this condition, some doctors might recommend that you quit smoking, avoid late-night snacking, avoid tight-fitting clothes around your stomach, and sleep on a chair or a tapered wedge pillow.

What kind of pillow should you buy if you have acid reflux?

When looking for a pillow to alleviate your acid reflux, there are a number of features you should consider. You want to ask the following questions:

Can the pillow support you well?

A good pillow has to be able to support you all through the night because it is important for that you keep your stomach lower than your esophagus if you suffer from acid reflux.

If you are picking a pillow, consider the material and your sleeping position. Material that can hold you well will reduce the pressure put on your spine when sleeping on your back. In general, a good pillow for acid reflux is elevated by 30 to 45 degrees or about 6 to 8 inches, holding the elevation well from your lower back to your head.

If you are a side sleeper, opt for a firmer and higher pillow. You can benefit from buckwheat pillows, latex pillows, memory foam, and orthopedic pillows. Although quite rare for wedge pillows, you can opt for buckwheat pillow fillings, which can be adjusted, so the contour of the pillow can be tailor-fitted for you.

You can add or remove the hulls inside your pillow. Latex pillows are soft but can maintain their shape for about five years on average. Similarly, memory foam pillows are soft but supportive. Orthopedic pillows are specially designed to balance supportiveness and softness. They contain microscopic beads and can accommodate side and back sleepers.

Is the pillow malleable?

As well as being supportive, you should ensure that your pillow is malleable or adjustable. It should contour to your head and neck, especially when you toss and turn in your sleep.

Buckwheat, latex, memory foam, and orthopedic pillows are good adjustable pillows. One of the best fillings that makes a pillow adjustable is probably memory foam, which is viscoelastic. Viscoelastic materials can absorb pressure directly placed on it. Aside from pressure or weight, they also react to body temperature.

The microscopic memory pockets that make up the memory foam contour when heat is applied, and it springs back when it cools down. Memory foam is also resistant to allergens like mildew and mites, and to microorganisms like bacteria and mold.

There is also an option of getting a shredded foam, made up of a mixture of memory foam and latex, which can make your pillow even more malleable. Because of the latex mix, shredded memory foam is more breathable and cooler.

Is the pillow the right size?

If you toss and turn when you sleep, try to get a bigger pillow. Remember that if you suffer from acid reflux, sleeping with your back inclined or on your acid can help alleviate your acid reflux.

What benefits do you get from a wedge pillow?

Doctors recommend sleeping on your side or on a wedge pillow to combat acid reflux whilst you sleep. Why? With the help of a wedge pillow’s tapered shape and gravity, your stomach acids can be kept at bay. Some doctors also recommend sleeping on your side so that your stomach is lower than your esophagus. In the same way, this can keep your stomach acids down.

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Overall Conclusion

Overall, Churchill & Smith’s Durable Wedge Pillow is a good option if you suffer from acid reflux because it ticks off most - if not all - the criteria in the buying guide. First off all, its natural latex filling is supportive, so it can hold its form well.

As a result, you do not have to worry about occasionally getting acid reflux in the middle of the night. Secondly, it is malleable or adjustable. Similar to memory foam, the filling in Churchill & Smith’s Durable Wedge Pillow can contour to the shape of your body - whether you sleep on your back or on your side.

This wedge pillow is also a good size since its length and width are quite standard; they are similar to the dimensions of the general population. Its 8" elevation is also optimal for acid reflux sufferers. Lastly, because of its open-cell foam, the pillow promotes air circulation, making it hypoallergenic.

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