How to Use Therapeutic Pillows

If you toss and turn at night, snore, or suffer from other health maladies when you should be getting a good night's sleep, using a therapeutic pillow can help you rest easy. There's a therapeutic pillow available for many major medical problems, including acid reflux, poor circulation, sleep apnea, and chronic back pain. Even if you're simply a restless sleeper or need extra support for your head or neck, a therapeutic pillow will improve sleep quality. These pillows cost more than standard brands, but help prevent symptoms that may result in a more expensive doctor visit.

Instructions :

1
Use a neck or cervical pillow to prevent pain while engaging in everyday activities. A U-shaped neck pillow supports your head when traveling by plane or train or sitting in a bathtub. Secure the pillow snugly around your neck so that the opening rests on your shoulder.

2
Rest on a water-filled pillow to provide form-fitting neck and head support. Fill a water pillow with the amount of water you desire (more water for a firmer feel, less for a softer effect). Cover the waterproof pouch with a thermal insulator for warmth and a microfiber pillow case. The pillow will conform to the various positions of your head and neck as you change sleeping positions throughout the night.

3
Choose a therapeutic pillow for side sleepers. Use the pillow like a regular one. Most side sleeper pillows have a facial cradle to properly align the shoulder, neck and arm and prevent circulation problems. A side or stomach sleeper may also use a body pillow in conjunction with a head pillow. Fit a wedge shaped body pillow between your knees and up to your jawline for proper alignment of the neck and spine.

4
Buy a bed wedge to control acid reflux or elevate body parts. Prop a bed wedge behind your back in bed to keep your body upright and reduce the backwash caused by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD. Place your legs on a bed wedge after surgery to control swelling in the lower body, or under your back and head to reduce swelling in the face and upper body.

5
Position a lumbar pillow to help with back pain. Slip a pillow shaped like a half-moon behind the back when sitting or driving to maintain good posture and eliminate pressure on the spine. If your tailbone hurts when sitting on a hard or wood chair, place a donut-shaped therapeutic pillow on the seat to relive pressure on the coccyx bone.


Read more: How to Use Therapeutic Pillows | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5697187_use-therapeutic-pillows.html#ixzz18LbJm7LF