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It has happened to nearly all of us. You return home from a delicious meal out and are ready for a peaceful night of sleep. You drift off and before you know it, you wake up with a burning pain in your chest and throat that makes it impossible to fall back to sleep. This struggle is all too common for an estimated 70% of adults in the United States. Out of that 70%, for 1 in 3 Americans, the condition is chronic.

Imagine if you could reduce the discomfort associated with your Acid Reflux or GERD with a touch of a button. With the Mattress Genie Incline Sleep System, now you can!

The Painful Truth About Acid Reflux

GERD and acid reflux symptoms often occur more frequently at night when lying in bed because our bodies are in a horizontal position – our stomach and head are at approximately the same level. This position makes it easy for the highly acidic contents of the stomach to flow into the esophagus, causing the painful sensation of heartburn. More importantly, when the contents of the stomach do move into the esophagus, they tend to stay longer than they would during the day when gravity helps pull them back into the stomach. The longer they are in contact with the esophagus, the more time they have to damage the cellular lining. Symptoms of nighttime reflux can be quite sever and wake up even the soundest sleepers. Ultimately, reflux disease prevents many people from getting a full nights rest. With inadequate sleep, this may lead to other health related issues and reduce your quality of life if not treated.

The Best Known Secret for Living with Reflux

In addition to losing weight, avoiding trigger foods and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake helps alleviate your reflux pain. While doctors always push healthy life style changes, they also share the most effective solution to combating your reflux, which simply is elevate your body while sleeping. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s Dr. Laura Gerson, “Head-of-bed elevation has been shown to be effective in terms of improving pH as well as GERD symptoms. Head-of-bed elevation is effective, particularly for subjects with nocturnal GERD, because of the fact that stomach contents containing acid will more likely reflux into the esophagus while patients are lying flat without the beneficial effect of gravity. Head-of-bed elevation has been associated with significantly fewer and shorter reflux episodes, faster acid clearing, and fewer reflux symptoms.”

Considering how effective elevated sleeping is for Acid Reflux and GERD, there are various solutions to help you reach the optimal incline if 6-8 inches to relieve your symptoms. Putting blocks under the head of bed is a simple and cheap way to raise your sleeping surface. However, this can be difficult to do if you are alone or elderly. The front legs of your bed also may not be strong enough to support the added pressure of the head of the bed being at an incline. Piling up pillows may seem like an easy fix, but this can actually be counterproductive as this position may cause your body to bend at the waist, adding to the upward pressure, or even worse, go flat. Pillows can also shift during the night and wedges can be unattractive and prohibitive to sleeping with a partner. Adjustable beds are an option but are often not in the budget. We think we’ve come up with the perfect solution.

Best Bed Wedge Solution for Back or Side Sleepers Struggling With Acid Reflux

Our new Mattress Genie Incline Sleep System is an inflatable bed wedge that is easy to install under any type of mattress and inflates easily by using the illuminated remote control. This inflatable wedge solution elevated your entire torso and hips up to 8 inches, which is the optimal include for treating heartburn and indigestion. With the full torso support, the Mattress Genie Incline Sleep System is the perfect solution for those who sleep on their back, side or multi-positions at night. When not in use, the Mattress Genie Incline Sleep System can be fully deflated, giving the appearance of any normal mattress. Standard  foam bed wedges are shorter in length than the ISS and which limits the sleeping surface, causing an unnatural bend at the hips which can increase pressure on the lower back and legs. The gentle slope provided by the Mattress Genie ISS virtually eliminates the possibility of slipping or sliding down which may occur when using a foam bed wedge or pillows.

There are many advantages to elevation therapy: it will reduce nighttime reflux episodes, promote faster acid clearing in the event of a reflux episode, and shorten the duration of stomach contents being in contact with the delicate lining of the esophagus, which will promote healing. Complications from nighttime reflux may be reduced resulting in improved quality of sleep which is so vital to our health and wellbeing. Visit https://www.contourliving.com/mattress-genie-incline-sleep-system-bed-wedge/ to learn more.  All of our Contour Branded products are covered under our 45 Day Comfort Guarantee and 1 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty. Start experiencing relief from the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD today with the Mattress Genie Incline Sleep System!

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4 Ways Stress Increases Muscle Pains

Having a stressful day is never fun – on any level – but according to some new research, it could also come with pain. Adding to any chances in mood, personality, or looming deadlines, stress can be literally painful. This is perhaps most seen in the muscles, especially in areas with ongoing injuries or recurring aches. However, each person can also experience these pains in a different format.

From tension to endorphins, here are the top five ways in which stress can trigger muscle pains.

4. Stress affects posture

Dealing with stressful situations can cause you to hunch over or perform jerky movements. This means the spine isn’t able to relax, interrupting circulation and everyday tension relief.

3. Emotions block vital energy

When in proper working order, the blood and other fluids flow freely throughout the body, increasing circulation and pain-relief efficiency. However, when stressed, emotions as a block, stopping important fluids from making their way.

2. Adrenaline is on short supply

It’s natural for adrenaline glands to produce endorphins that increase moods and decrease pains. But when stress happens, these glands are blocked, greatly reducing the amount of good-feeling substances available. This means ongoing stress has a direct affect on back or other recurring pains.

1. The body (and mind) can’t relax

Stress means you aren’t able to completely relax – this causes both the body and mind to be on edge. Without this much-needed relaxing time, muscles are tense, and don’t get the ability to rest and rejuvenate.

When it comes to stress, there are several triggers that can cause additional body pain. While some can manifest within the specific body parts (such as the back), other aches simply take place wherever the body is most vulnerable. To help avoid these stress-induced pains, look for less stressful situations – and the ability to fully relax – as an everyday rule.

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The Best Sleeping Positions for a Bad Back

When crawling into bed each night, sometimes the worst positions are just the most comfortable. We sleep on our sides, our stomachs, and flop arms into odd angles. Those sleeping positions, however, just may contribute to back pain throughout the day. By stretching the muscles awkwardly or putting weight on the wrong areas, tings can occur several hours later.

To not only avoid pain-causing positions, but to help your back while sleeping, try these three back-friendly set ups. (Even Dr. Oz agrees.)

The Soldier

When achieving “the soldier,” a sleeper must lay on their back through the entire night. Look for a supportive mattress that will hold the rear, spine, and legs in place while achieving this pain-free night of rest.

Note: The soldier should be avoided by those with sleep apnea, as gravity allows the throat to become blocked, which is dangerous for those with difficult nighttime breathing. Back sleeping can also increase one’s chances of snoring throughout the night.

Sleeping Beauty

Graceful as it may sound, the “sleeping beauty” pose offers hard-hitting results against spinal pressure. Lay on your side with the back slightly curved, knees bent, and the arms crossed. Add a pillow between the knees to offer added hip support, or leave as is to achieve a restful position.

This is also considered one of the only side-effect-free ways to sleep – causing no outside pains or snoring tendencies.

Dead Man’s Float

Stomach down and head cocked to the side, the “dead man’s float” offers a position that any frontal sleeper can enjoy. Arms under the pillow can also work to prop the head and offer upper limb comfort.

Over time, this can cause neck twinges, which may or may not manifest in recurring pain. To avoid these side effects, do without the pillow or find another place for the arms. Another pillow under the hips will also prop the lower end of the body, evening out one’s levels. [Dr. Oz]

To gain a healthy night’s sleep, remember to look toward these back-friendly positions during all hours of the night.

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The Hazards of Wearing High Heels

High-heeled shoes of all shapes and heights can cause ongoing damage to the body. Depending on frequency and length of wear, these side effects can vary from minor pain to irreversible damage. Before strapping on those stylish shoes this holiday season, consider the specifics as to what’s taking place with each step.

Calf Muscles Can Shorten

Over time, the calf muscles can shrink and shorten due to improper usage. When wearing high heels, the rear of the foot is elevated, using less of this important muscle with each step.

Shortened Achilles Tendon

Also in danger of minimizing in length is the Achilles tendon. When walking on an angle vs. flat-footed, the tendon becomes compromised and is used in an unsafe position.

Knee Pain

When wearing high heels, thigh muscles are made to work harder, which means more impact on the knee (knee cap pressure alone increases by 26%). Over time this leads to aches or injuries.

Bad Posture

Because of the way one’s weight is displaced in high heels, the rest of the body’s posture suffers. The stomach is pushed forward (as well as the chest), the rear is pushed back, tilting the lower back, and knees and ankles are bent at awkward ankles, while the toes take the brunt of the weight. This is a recipe for pain and poor circulation in all areas of the body.

Ankle Sprain

Without proper footing, ankle sprains are far more likely to take place. In heightened shoes, wearers are more likely to lose balance, slip, or misstep, which can often cause ankle injuries.

Weight Displacement

Feet were made to hold one’s weight evenly, not all on the ball or toes. And the higher the heel, the more pressure that’s put onto the front of the feet. This can cause corns, shortening of toes, hammertoes, bunions, and a number of other pain-inducing issues. [Consumer Healthcare]

Holiday or not, avoiding high heels on a regular basis can help you to avoid these unfortunate health issues. Stick to flats for comfort, and for your health.

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New Mattresses: Why Now’s the Time to Buy

When it comes to big purchases, tomorrow, next month, or even next year is always “the best time to buy.” Because these items are expensive and bulky, we rarely make purchase until it’s a necessity. But when it comes to your mattress, the surface you sleep on every single night, buying now just may be the best bet.

Thanks to a waning market, mattress companies are offering amazing deals and incentives. And so far, their price cuts haven’t seen end in sight. For instance, on top of already great deals, mattress shops are offering buy-one-get-one-free offers – essentially a 50% discount. You may not need dual mattress sets, but maybe you have a friend or family member who’s also looking to buy. Or, take home the free model and sell it at a ridiculous discount. Since the model you already got was such a great deal, any sales profit is just an added bonus.

Other incentives are coming in the form of electronics, like free iPads or TVs (Some of which offset the price of the bed itself.) And of course, all of this comes on top of free deliveries, warranties, and a great price.

Should You Replace Your Mattress?

Even with models only a few years old, many are still opting to take advantage of these ongoing deals. Rather than paying full price once their current bed runs out of comfort power, they’re nipping the problem in the bud. Older models can then be sold or put in storage for safekeeping.

No matter the scenario, however, there is no denying that it’s a great time to purchase your next mattress. From a fancy pillow top to even the most basic of models, companies are offering ongoing deals that are almost impossible to resist.

Consider finding your next bed today and use the slow market to your advantage.

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New Water Pillow at Contour Living

We're happy to offer a brand new design by Core Products: The Core Basic Water Pillow.

The Core Basic Water Pillow is the first to have a water chamber with a displacement panel. This displacement panel quiets the sound of the water plus keeps the neck better supported because it prevents water from flowing into the center of the pillow. The unique design of the new Core Basic Water Pillow combines supple comfort with proper neck support.

The Core Basic Water Pillowi s made with a high quality 100% cotton fiber cushion enclosing a therapeutic, specially designed water chamber. The water chamber is removable for easy and spill-free filling. Plus, the handy support guide makes it easy to choose the correct water level for your individual firmness desired.

I have a sample here in my office and the quality is supurb! See it now at ContourLiving:

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