Why should one prefer wedge pillows to deal with GERD symptoms?

GERD is an abbreviation for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This is a digestive disorder in which the contents of the stomach enter the oesophagus. The ring of muscles between the stomach and the oesophagus gets affected by GERD. It also causes acid reflux and heartburn. This medical condition is very probable to develop in pregnant women, diabetes or asthma patients and overweight people. If taken lightly, this can cause irritation in the oesophagus making it very difficult for the patient to swallow and sometimes may result in bleeding, narrowing of the oesophagus.

The patients suffering from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease are usually prescribed antacids and certain other medications for the treatment. In extreme cases, a surgery has to be performed. Besides, adoption of certain lifestyles can also prove to be of great help in order to get some relief from GERD symptoms. For patients who experience the GERD symptoms during the night, replacing the pillow with a wedge pillow while sleeping can be extremely helpful.

The best wedge pillow for GERD, acid reflux and heartburn works in a simple way. When a person sleeps using a normal pillow, the chances of the acid leaking out of the stomach into the oesophagus are quite high. In contrast to it, a wedge pillow provides the head, shoulders, and torso a slight elevation and prevents the acid leakage. Over the time, the wedge pillow may lose its firmness and shape and that is when it will need a replacement. 

There are two extremely reliable wedge pillow options to choose from - Advanced Positioning Wedge and the Reflux Relief System. The former one creates the ideal inclined sleeping position for a comfortable sleep for maximum effectiveness while the latter in addition to the Advanced Positioning Wedge has a full-length, wrap-around body pillow for added comfort. The best wedge pillow for GERD, acid reflux and heartburn should be clinically tried, approved by learned doctors and should come with a guarantee.

Instead of spending lump sum money on tons of medicines, a one-time investment in a wedge pillow for GERD, acid reflux and heartburn cure can benefit you monetarily as well as can protect you from all the side effects medicines often bring along. The positive feedback from the relieved users account for the rise in the preference of wedge pillows over the standard pillows by the ones in trouble.  

PPI Side Effects and Associated Health Risks

Starting with proton pump inhibitors. They are used basically to treat specific gastrointestinal disorders. These work by subsiding the acid build up in the stomach.  Actually, they confine the cells in the lining of a stomach, who generate acid for use during the times of digestion.

When extra acid reaches oesophagus, it can harm the tissue and cause burning in the chest called heartburn.  Here, once PPIs reaches the bloodstream they signal the acid-forming cells, in the stomach lining too, cease to produce so much gastric acid.

Are there side effects?
Just like most of the medications, PPIs might lead to uncomfortable yet slight side effects. These can be taken as the long-term side effects of PPI.
Some of the commonest side effects are:

• Anxiety
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Gas
• Headaches
• Incapability to properly absorb nutrients
• Rash or other skin problems
• Joint pains and aches

These group of drugs might also come up with serious side-effects. Here, it is important to know that the manufacturers have been, accused of not really alerting the consumers about the likely unsafe side effects.
So, it gets imperative that if your manufacturer is not telling you much about the side effects, you emphasize on this Factor. It is your right to know if there are any side effects or not.

Serious Side effects 
Apart from some slight side effects, there are some serious ones too. Have a look below:

• Bone fractures
• Bacterial infections
• Dementia
• Damage to arteries
• heart failure or heart attack 
• Kidney disease or damages
• Premature death
• Stroke

Many times, researchers have stated that longer usage of PPI, upsurge the danger of serious health issues. Perhaps, it is important that you are sure about the usage of PPI. If you are suffering from any medical condition, it gets even more crucial to consult your doctor before taking these drugs.

What else?
Well, prescription PPIs are most of the times prescribed in huger doses for, longer duration of time than the over-the-counter ones.  However, authorities have realized that people can go for over-the-counter versions, outside the recommendations of the agencies.

Actually, some researchers have also found that long-term use of PPIs might increase the chances of infections, such as pneumonia. It can also cause malabsorption, which means disrupting the ability of the body to, absorb nutrients it requires from food.

One of the most serious and heartbreaking side effects of PPI can be AIN. Yes, AIN can take place because of the reaction of the body to diverse medications.  It can end up with mild to grave kidney conditions, such as kidney failure.  AIN might take place early in PPI fourteen day courses.
One study in 2017 has discovered that the patients consuming PPIs might increase, their risk for chronic silent kidney damage.

Thus, it gets crucial that you understand the long-term side effects of PPI before you begin to rely on the drugs. It might not affect you in any way but what if it does so?