What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is a term that's often heard, but unless you're a lucky individual who has yet to experience it, you might not know exactly what it is. Or, perhaps you've been suffering from the sickness but didn't know what it was called. Acid reflux is a condition where digesting stomach contents (including acid) makes its way back up into the esophagus. This can take place to a varied level of degrees – from instances that are quite mild, to those that are frequent and extremely painful.

Essentially, the throat fails to hold stomach contents in place, or acid forces its way through barrier devices – either way the condition can be uncomfortable, even painful, and can greatly affect one's eating patterns. Acid reflux can also be worsened when eating certain types of foods, or after eating too close to bedtime, as lying down (or even reclining) reduces the help of gravity to keep food within the stomach. Consuming alcohol, rich, or spicy foods can also exasperate the condition. However, some are more prone to its effects due to genetics, which can also cause some of the most severe symptoms.

Acid Reflux and Sleep

In terms of conditions, acid reflux is often most felt at night. This simply stems from body position – lying down allows acid to rise. When food hasn't had enough time to fully digest, those symptoms can hurt even worse; when there's more food, there's more acid that helps break it down (and acid that's more active), which leaves a higher chance for it to leak upward.

Luckily, there are several simple solutions to helping combat acid reflux. Start by eating earlier so your food has more time to break down. Reducing heavy or spicy foods can also help to settle the stomach. Next, sleep on an incline. A wedge pillow can encourage acid to move downward, and increase comfort while you sleep.

Doctor's agree, raising your body 6-8 inches while sleeping can help reduce or eliminate symptoms of:

• Acid Reflux 
• GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Indigestion
• Heartburn
• Hiatal Hernia

Continue Reading

4 Ways to Regulate Your Sleep Through Daylight Savings

This Sunday, the U.S, Canada, and most of Western Europe will participate in the spring event of Daylight Savings Time. A day where, twice per year, we adjust our clocks in order to get the most efficient levels of daylight possible. Along with saving energy, the perks are plentiful – but that doesn't mean we like losing an hour of sleep once a year … even if we do get to gain it back later. 

In fact Arizona, parts of Canada, and countries in three other continents have since done away with the practice altogether, opting for standard time year-round. 

For the rest of the population who will be operating on a 23-hour-day this weekend, use these tips to avoid losing out on sleep. And to help keep your body regulated on your new, earlier-than-usual hour. 

1. Ease in With an Earlier Bedtime

We get it, it's hard to sleep when it's still. And it's even harder to get up when it's dark, but the clock will still tick, no matter how unhappy you are about it. If you're not a morning person, go to bed a little earlier at night until you're acclimated to the shift. Even 15 minutes can help.

2. Keep Your Morning Routine

Just a few weeks ago the sun was still sleeping in – so waking before sunrise should be an easy change. Just stick to your daily routine; do the same things at the same times and you'll have an easier adjustment.

3. Absorb Morning Light

Once the sun does come up, soak it in. Even when indoors, the presence of natural light helps to wake the body and can naturally perk up your senses.

4. Power Through

It's safe to say you'll be tired, especially for the first few days. However, sleeping in or skipping chores will only make it harder to adjust. Instead, fake being rested until your body has officially adjusted. 

Don't forget to set your clocks back this Sunday, March 13^th – the jump will take place at 2 am local time and will move your respective time zone to DST until fall. 

Be sure to stay rested through the jump with these proven tips.  

Continue Reading

The Best Sleeping Positions for Expecting Mothers

Almost every birth mom on the block had a rough time sleeping during pregnancy. With all the changes that took place within their bodies, and with an added issue of size (especially in the second and third trimesters), it's not hard to see why, either. Growing babies simply make it hard to get comfortable. Let alone comfortable enough to actually sleep. Then there's the added issue of frequent restroom visits, a baby that's on its own schedule, and more.

When possible, however, it's best for these moms-to-be to get as much rest as possible. It's a step that allows their bodies to prep for their upcoming arrival, as well as one that increases their level of health.

To get as much sleep as possible – no matter what trimester you're in, remember to look toward these sleeping positions.

Anything That Involves an Oversized Pillow

A cozy cushion can help offset your weight, while still placing cushion where it's needed most. Right under the belly. Expecting moms can also gain comfort by reducing tension from the back, neck, or legs. Really, the bigger the pillow and easier it is to adapt to the body's current position, the better. 

On Your Side

This way your belly still gets a resting surface (the bed), which helps alleviate some of your stomach's weight. Sleeping on your side also gives you two options, with plenty more variations. While reducing tension on the lower back. Place pillows along the back or between the legs for additional support.

On Your Stomach

This might sound unheard of, but there are actual contraptions that allow pregnant ladies to lie on their stomachs. Generally by offering a well-placed hole. However, you can also stack pillows or remove a couch cushion to get the same results. This might not be great in the long-term, but can provide much-needed relief during naps or resting time. 

Continue Reading

Can Sleeping Habits Cause Headaches?

For most, sleeping is a time meant for both resting and relaxation. It’s comfy, a necessity, and often a treat at the end of a long day. Sleeping also allows bodies to recharge and gear up for new activities, while giving the brain a much needed break. If un-restful, however, it’s possible to wake up feeling tired, groggy, or in pain. All from not getting the proper amount of rest.

One of the most common post-sleep complaints are headaches. Despite having given the body the sleep it needs, people can still wake with head pain. For some, it can even become a chronic condition, greatly affecting their work and personal lives.

But what’s the cause? Can sleep – when interrupted – actually cause more health problems than it helps prevent? How can something meant for rest work against one’s health?  

Possible Headache Triggers

There are various stages of sleep, and waking in the middle may interrupt the brain from producing “feel good” chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals work to put the body in balance through health and attitude. But when woken too early, these levels can get out of whack, possibly leading to migraines or other milder headaches. The level of each headache can depend on a person’s specific chemical balance, their sleeping habits, and more. [WebMD]

As for sleeping with three pillows, or with one’s head in a jackknife position – that’s probably not helping pain levels either. Necks are sensitive areas, and straining them for long periods of time – even if it’s “comfortable” can cause pain later on. This fix could be as simple as purchasing a new pillow that offers better support for the head or neck.

However, with chronic or frequent headaches, it’s always important to talk to a doctor about what could be causing the pain. Between their expertise and the proper sleeping equipment, rest-induced headaches can be greatly reduced.

Ready for that new bed pillow?  Take a look at our Contour Cloud Pillow - It's our best selling bed pillow!

Continue Reading

CPAP Therapy Resources

Sleep Apnea patients and CPAP Therapy users - If you haven't heard about our CPAP Pillows yet - please take a look.   Below is a short video on our CPAPMax Pillow - the latest in our line of bed pillows created specifically for CPAP therapy patients.     It allows you to sleep better, accommodating your mask and reducing leaks and pressure points.  

Plus, Contour has a line of CPAP accessories designed to improve your overall sleep experience, from daily cleaners to tubing covers, we have you covered.    You can find the CPAP category of products here:   http://www.contourliving.com/c-38-cpap-supply.aspx

There is also a great facebook resource for CPAP users and Sleep Apnea patients called http://www.facebook.com/CPAPPillow.  Filled with lots of good information on the subject.  Plus, it's great community of users who share their opinions on what works and what doesn't.

Continue Reading

Mattress Pad Temperature Control

Temperature Tune-Up (or Down!)

 

Much like Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, the temperature must be “just right.” The air temperature of your bedroom, that is. Not too hot and certainly not too cold. Finding a comfortable air flow is a key to a better night’s sleep.

As you’re turning in for the evening, your body ideally has reached  a comfortable equilibrium or middle ground, so when the air is too warm or too cool, the body is then made to work to achieve that “happy medium” it started out with.  Dr. H. Craig Heller, professor of biology at Stanford University says “a mild drop in body temperature induces sleep. Generally, if your are in a cooler room, it is easier for that to happen. But if the room becomes uncomfortably hot or cold, your are more likely to wake up which can also affect the quality dream state of REM sleep."

Recommending a universal room temperature for quality rest sounds simple enough, but realistically, experts find it more difficult as what may be a comfortable temperature for one is not necessarily comfortable for another.  Experts from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advise thinking “cave-like: cool, quiet and dark, an ideal setting for bats who are known for sleeping 16 hours at a time." They also suggest limit the layers of clothing you sleep in, including socks on your feet as they tend to increase body temperature. 

If your house or bedroom tends to be on the cool, drafty side, trapping cold air, perhaps a personal space heater would warm the room just enough to keep the thermostat bill from creeping too high. Consequently if the room tends to trap heat, keep the ceiling fan running at a constant speed to allow cooler air to circulate at a more comfortable rate. With more than 70 million Americans suffering from chronic sleep disorders and sleep problems, seeking relief from these tips are seemingly necessary and will help increase energy, health and safety.

For a unique, temperature controlled bed surface, look at the ChiliPad Mattress Pad - It allows single or dual-zone control to make your bed hotter or cooler, depending on preference.  The dual-zone is perfect for two users who differ on desired temperature.   You will sleep better and you will save money by just adjusting the temperature control where you sleep, not your whole house!

Continue Reading

Tips for Enhancing that Wonderful Thing Called Sleep

 

A warm glass of milk before bed is always a calming means to close the end of a busy day. The soothing, warm beverage helps to ease the mind and body for rest. Even if not a milk fan, the notion of something warm before bedtime is certainly worth the effort in order to promote optimal rest. According to the national Sleep Foundation, as much as 64 percent of American adults experience sleep difficulties. That warm glass is sounding more and more appealing.

 

Judith Fertig, contributing author for Natural Awakenings Magazine mentions a concept called “sleep hygiene” in her article, Sleep Aides versus Sleep Sappers. The room temperature, amount of light in the bedroom, fluffiness of the mattress or bed pillow to what dinner consisted of all factor into the quality or lack of quality rest we will receive that night. 

 

Neuropathic physician with Seattle’s Bastyr University, Jamie Corroon suggests staying away from spicy foods, nightcaps (alcoholic beverages) and caffeine. 

 

“Caffeine’s stimulant effect peaks in about one hour and then declines as the liver breaks it down. So, if you go to bed by 11 p.m., you’ll have to stop your caffeine intake by 2 or 3 p.m. to avoid insomnia,” advises registered dietician, Joy Bauer.

 

What are recommended by physicians and neuropaths are nuts and juices, an assemblance of herbs, in tea form or supplement form, a complex carbohydrate of 200 calories or less as a bedtime snack  and of course a warm glass of milk. 

 

Janet Stone, a Registered Nurse working with patients receiving colonoscopy/endoscopy care agrees that a warm, milky beverage is certainly a great sleep aide for the patients she cares for. “We always ensure our patients are calm and relaxed prior to any scheduled procedure. The warm liquid resonates with sleep as most patients drank milk as infants before bed, so that fond memory is reintroduced.”

Brought to you by Contour Living - "We Support You For Life"

Continue Reading

New Folding Wedge Bed Cushion

Add gradual , inclined support to your bed, and sleep comfortably at an incline! Our new folding bed wedge cushion  provides a fast and easy way to support your head and chest in an upright position.  Adds a slight incline to your upper body during sleep.  This position is recommended for help in reducing digestive related symptoms from acid reflux, GERD and heartburn.   The folding design allows for compact storage.  Comes with a super-soft velour cover which is easily removed for machine washing!

• Adds gradual angled support
• Helps ease breathing and sinus pressure during sleep
• Helps reduce GERD and acid reflux symptoms during sleep
• Helps muscle tension and support the spine
• Folds in half for fast, compact storage
• Includes a soft velour cover - remove and machine wash!

Continue Reading

The Leg and Knee Pillow for a Better Balanced Body

The Top Five Reasons the Leg Pillow is the Way to Go!

When we think of settling in for a full nights rest, "proper alignment of the knees, back, hips and spine" usually aren't at the forefront of the mind after a hectic day.  As much as we look toward those precious nighttime hours of rest and relaxation to recharge our mind and bodies, the slumber should be of quality, not quantity.  In order to ensure the most out of our time lying down, it is essential that our bodies are correctly aligned. Ensuring unnecessary pressure and tension are alleviated from the lower body during sleep is just as important as not slouching during the day.

The Contour Leg Pillow is the ideal solution to providing the upmost comfort to the lower part of your body, relieving tension and pressure from the knees, hips and back.

1. The Leg Pillow is made of 100% memory foam, with a super-soft velour cover making it a comfortable addition to align your body properly
2. The pillow fits to the curves of your legs, maintaining the shape throughout the night
3. The Contour Leg Pillow is ideal for “side Sleepers” and those that suffer from Sciatica, as it restores the body’s natural alignment, leaving the sleeper pain free and well-rested.
4. The Contour Leg Pillow is also a very easy and affordable way to aide in any leg muscle cramps, uncomfortable varicose veins as it acts as a cradle, improving overall circulation.
5. Over 7 million Contour Leg Pillows have been sold! Experience the comfort and quality rest that so many others enjoy each night!

Continue Reading

Invest in Good Rest

When is the RIGHT time to invest in a new mattress?

It is simply in our human nature to “invest.” Certainly from a monetary perspective, “investing” in our everyday lives is inevitable; from choosing to pump the Supreme Unleaded gasoline versus Regular into our already high-priced and motorized “investment” ensuring it drives to optimal performance, to investing in copious amounts of department store cosmetics and skin care products to ensure that natural, radiant glowing face shines brightly each morning, down to the simple investment in our daily cup of exorbitantly trendy coffee we so rely on to start the morning off right. So why should investing in a quality night’s sleep be any different?

In terms of following in the (Americanized) investment footsteps: it shouldn’t. A good mattress is certainly a worthy venture to invest upon. The act of replacing a worn mattress with a new quality-crafted mattress can work mere wonders Not only is it the key to a quality night’s sleep, but crucial to a healthy neck, back and spine. The bottom line: a well-produced mattress can mean the difference of waking up feeling energized or leave you stiff as a board.

So when is the time for an upgrade? Experts suggest to upgrade about every ten years or so. However, superior comfort and overall support take precedence. The main objective in the investment of a new mattress is to be able to fully relax the body as you slumber the night away, with little to no tossing or turning, and with enough support underneath the body to avoid any pain or discomfort whatsoever.

It is also a good idea to check your old mattress for any obvious imperfections. Rips, tears, lumps or sagging in the pad or pillow itself could signal the need for a new investment. Aside from the more obvious indications of a need exist some less obvious; tuning into your body and assessing your needs of the present day as opposed to the needs that your body may have called for year prior will guide you through the mattress-shopping experience. Bodies change and so do our nightly necessities. Certain areas of the back or neck may require a bit more padding now than at one time. Certain sleep positions may cause the onset of snoring or sleep apnea if not supported correctly. Take a moment to reassess your personal needs at the present moment to truly reap the benefits of a quality mattress.

Continue Reading

Free Shipping on Pillows and Back Support

Get Free Shipping on your purchase of pillows, wedge and sleep cushion and back support products at Contour Living.  This weekend only!

Buy $50 or more and enter coupon "FREE50" during checkout.  We'll remove your shipping charges and still ship your order the next business day!

Save on our new CPAPmax pillow for sleep apnea - our next generation CPAP bed pillow ships free!

Try our new Flip Pillow - It combines a bed pillow and wedge pillow in one.  Simply arrange this unique cushion in one of four positions to get the support you need.

Order a set of our Contour brand bed pillows - you'll save $10 off the single price of two pillows, plus, you'll get free shipping!

Continue Reading

Tests Confirm the Cloud Mattress Pad

Contour Cloud Mattress Substantiation Sheet

Quality and duration of sleep are affected by many factors such as noise, mental stress, physical pressure concentration, posture and support.  Anything that can be done to reduce these negative factors improves sleep.  The Contour Cloud Mattress pad’s specially engineered design addresses issues related to pressure points, posture and support to dramatically improve quality of sleep and increase the duration of time spent in the deepest, most restorative levels of sleep.

The Contour Cloud Mattress Pad has been tested three different ways:

1.  Sleep Efficiency Tests  
• Wrist Actigraph Studies measure muscle movements in the body during sleep.  This type of test is considered to be a good indicator of the quality of sleep that a person is getting. 
• When using the Contour Cloud Mattress pad, participants’ sleep efficiency levels rose dramatically.  On average, participants gained an extra 27 minutes of deep, restorative levels of quality sleep, and they experienced less fragmented sleep.
•  Sleep efficiency levels are particularly important for people who are in situations where sleep times are limited, such as Navy personnel.  These people need to make the most of the time that they have to sleep, so that they can be better prepared to carry out their duties during awake hours.  There are numerous studies that point to a lack of sleep and/or poor quality sleep affecting a person’s level of alertness and his/her ability to function effectively and think clearly.
•  A few examples are listed below:  
• Slowed reaction time
• Creativity, short term memory and sense of humor are all compromised by a lack of quality sleep 
• One dramatic example of this is that the loss of one hour of sleep during daylight savings time causes traffic accidents to increase by 7%-8%
2. Pressure Studies
   

• Pressure studies measure the amount of pressure that the body has when laying on different types of sleep surfaces to show how well the body’s weight is distributed.  The more even the weight distribution, the lower the pressure.  
• The average person tosses and turns about 70 times during the night, resulting in fragmented, low quality sleep.  Often times, tossing and turning occurs when the person attempts to relieve pressure on a particular area of the body.  Shoulders and hips, for example, are pressure “hot spots” and often endure the brunt of the pressure when a person sleeps on a non-supportive surface.  The less supportive the surface, the less even the weight distribution is, which in turn causes the person to toss and turn.  A person often awakes during the night in response to pressure build-up to adjust his/her position in an effort to relieve it.
•  When participants laid on the Contour Cloud Mattress Pad, as opposed to a regular mattress, there was a dramatic reduction in pressure points all over the body.  The participants’ weight was more evenly distributed, so pressure was relieved on “hot spot” areas of the body like shoulders, hips and knees.
•  When you reduce these pressure points, you are able to sleep more comfortably in one position for longer periods of time, which minimizes fragmented sleep and maximizes time spent in the deeper, more restorative levels of sleep.

3. Posture and Alignment

• In order for a sleep surface to be truly supportive, it must have some amount of cushion as well as a shape to it that matches the subtle curves of the body.  Mattresses are flat, they have no shape and often they’re either too hard, resulting in a rigid sleep surface, or they’re too soft, resulting in a hammocking effect that can be particularly detrimental to your lower back area.
•  Video Fluoroscopy is basically a moving x-ray, which shows the inside of the body in motion.  With it, we are able to demonstrate how well the Contour Cloud Mattress Pad supports and aligns the body’s skeletal system.
•  When the body’s skeletal system is properly supported, surrounding muscles are able to relax during sleep.

    
Contour Cloud Mattress Pad Construction and Features & Benefits

1. 2-1/2” thick triple layer design features a surface layer of heat sensitive material called Soft-Touch memory foam
•  Molds to fit your body’s every curve for superior weight distribution and minimal tossing and turning during the night. 
• This type of material was originally developed for NASA to cushion astronauts on lift-off.
•  Ribbed surface allows air to circulate through the pad so you stay cool and comfortable during the night.
2.  Middle layer contains a lumbar support
•  Maintains the spine’s proper curve and helps to minimize low back pain caused by poor sleep posture.
• Fills in the gap that flat mattresses leave around the lumbar and waist area to maintain the natural arch in your low back and encourage proper sleep posture during resting periods
3. Base Layer :
•  Constructed of high quality dense foam for excellent nighttime support
•  Prevents the mattress pad from bottoming out underneath the body’s weight.

.    
   .Learn More about this Foam Mattress Topper Here  

Continue Reading

Free Shipping this Weekend at Contour Living

Take advantage of our Free Shipping Weekend at Contour Living! Only for our Back to Health newsletter subscribers, stock up and save!. Hurry, Free Shipping expires August 12th.

Spend $75 or more and enter coupon FREESHIP in your shopping cart. Update your cart and your shipping will be on us! You'll get great prices on back support products and cushions, Contour Pillows (leg pillows, neck pillows and pillows for your bed), wedge solutions like our Mattress Genie and Back Max Cushions, and much more!

Shop Contour Living Now!

Continue Reading

New 3-D Cool Mesh Pillow from Contour Products

New Technology! Soft • Cool • Clean • Dry Uses 3-D Mesh Technology! The cooling properties of 3-D mesh technology combine with plush memory foam to provide an incredible sleeping surface for your head, neck and shoulder area. Enjoy the plush feel of premium grade memory foam while sleeping on a virtual layer of air! This unique combination keeps you cool and dry, while molds to fit the exact shape of your head and neck, ensuring proper sleeping posture posture throughout the night. The pillow includes two covers: an inside cover with 3-D mesh and a breathable outside cover. Both Covers are easily removed and washable.

The Science of Mesh - Our 3-D mesh is made of thousands of resilient fibers, each behaving as an independent spring. Combined, they offer exceptional conforming support, cooling breathability and comfort!

Continue Reading

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:

Continue Reading

Reduce Snoring: Advice and a New Pillow Help!

Welcome Contour Living and Back to Health subscribers. This week we're focusing on snoring - and how to reduce or stop it. We're happy to introduce our newest product: The European Anti-Snore Pillow, plus Tips on How to Reduce Snoring. Some quick facts about our new pillow:

• Adjustable anti-snore air chamber positions your head and neck to help prevent snoring via an easy to use inflate valve.
• The pillow’s curved shape accommodates your neck area.
• Open cell, natural latex foam regulates moisture and warmth and provides a soft, supportive sleeping surface.
• Promotes side sleeping.
• Family members will sleep better with reduced snoring.
• Quilted cover is removable for washing
• Fits in queen size pillow case.
• Backed by a five year guarantee.

Comfortably position your head and neck for improved airway alignment to reduce the most common causes of snoring, like sleeping on your back. A built-in air chamber in the center of this pillow allows adjustable support to help keep you off your back during the night. Simply inflate the air bubble with the connected tube to the desired height.

The anti-snore pillow is made of natural latex foam flocks that regulate moisture and warmth and provide a soft, supportive sleeping surface. The pillow is curved to accommodate your neck area, and its anatomical shape ensures proper support during the night. The high quality Euro soft cotton cover is quilted for added comfort and luxury, and can be removed for washing. The pillow fits a queen size case and looks normal on your bed. The Anti-Snore pillow is backed by a five year guarantee. Learn more or purchase your Anti-Snore Pillow here   http://www.contourliving.com

This Week's Featured Article:

Advice on How to Stop Snoring
Some helpful advice for reducing snoring:

• One cause of snoring is sleeping on your back (head up). Sleeping in this position can limit the free flow of air through the breathing passageways. A simple change of positions, to one such as sleeping on your side, can help open the passage and enable easier (and quieter) breathing.
• Excess weight can enlarge the internal organs in the breathing passageway and can also contribute to snoring. Maintain a healthy weight and you'll reduce this cause of snoring. In addition, a healthy diet will improve your over-all well-being and produce more productive sleep.
• Nasal congestion and allergies will also block air passageways and make it difficult to breath during sleep. The symptoms associated with congestion and allergies will be especially worse if you are sleeping on your back.
• Don't smoke. Yet another healthy reason not smoke, (as if you need another one).
• Avoid drinking alcohol before bedtime and limit overall alcohol intake.
• Avoid overeating, especially "heavy" meals before bedtime. .
• Certain over-the-counter medicines designed for sleeping or dealing with symptoms of congestion, colds or allergies can cause breathing airway relaxation and help make sleeping a noisy activity.

© 1993-2008 Contour Products, Inc. All rights reserved.

Continue Reading

New Anti-Snore Pillow Reduces Snoring!

Comfortably position your head and neck for improved airway alignment to reduce the most common causes of snoring, like sleeping on your back. A built-in air chamber in the center of this pillow allows adjustable support to help keep you off your back during the night. Simply inflate the air bubble with the connected tube to the desired height. The anti-snore pillow is made of natural latex foam flocks that regulate moisture and warmth and provide a soft, supportive sleeping surface. The pillow is curved to accommodate your neck area, and its anatomical shape ensures proper support during the night. The high quality Euro soft cotton cover is quilted for added comfort and luxury, and can be removed for washing. The pillow fits a queen size case and looks normal on your bed. The Anti-Snore pillow is backed by a five year guarantee. Adjustable anti-snore air chamber positions your head and neck to help prevent snoring via an easy to use inflate valve. The pillow’s curved shape accommodates your neck area. Open cell, natural latex foam regulates moisture and warmth and provides a soft, supportive sleeping surface. Promotes side sleeping. Family members will sleep better with reduced snoring. Quilted cover is removable for washing Fits in queen size pillow case. Backed by a five year guarantee.

Continue Reading

Simple Tips To Ease Back Pain

Millions of Americans suffer from restless, uncomfortable sleep. Poor body support during the night may be the cause of the problem. Aligning your body in a natural way can minimize tossing and turning, relieve aches and pains and alleviate morning stiffness. This in turn can help you feel better all day.

Dr. Scott Donkin, (an ergonomics specialist who has created an educational pamphlet series including Sleeping Fit and author of "Sitting On The Job,") states that the importance of leg support at night is often overlooked. "Stress and discomfort often result from the upper leg and knee being unsupported during side sleeping. The sleeper instinctively shifts the upper knee forward, causing the hips and spine to rotate, putting a twisting force on the lower back. This often leads to low back pain at night and can aggravate an existing condition.

"The solution is to place a leg pillow between your lower thighs. This keeps the upper legs even, eliminating pressure on the knees and drastically reducing the tendency to twist the hips. Maintaining a comfortable open side posture helps keep your spine in a natural, relaxed position for a great night's sleep."

"Sleeping with better alignment is easy and affordable if you know what can help," says Scott Davis, CEO of Contour Living, a leading U.S. ergonomic sleep and comfort company. "Consumers are beginning to recognize the effectiveness of sleep support and alignment products as a natural means for getting good rest and minimizing aches and pains."

Here are some tips to help you properly align your body for restful sleep:

• The National Institutes of Health recommends sleeping with a pillow between your legs as a treatment for low back pain.
• Head pillows should be shaped to support the curve of your cervical spine.
• Leg pillows should fit the shape of your legs to comfortably stay put at night. (Try the Contour Leg Pillow)
• Look for mattress pads that support the curve of your lumbar spine, rather than just a flat piece of foam.
• The two most important features to consider when choosing body alignment products are shape and material. Memory foam best relieves pressure points, while fiberfill offers a softer feel and more ventilation.

Proper support is important for good sleep. Using a leg pillow like this one from Contour Living is an easy, low-cost way to help relieve back, hip and leg aches at night

Contour Products is the brand leader in sleep and support comfort products. We design, manufacture and sell support foam pillows, mattress toppers, memory foam mattresses, back support products and more Visit our Contour Living online store today!

Continue Reading

Butterfly 3-in-1 Massage Pillow’s™ Unique Hinged Design

Addresses Multiple Comfort & Support Problems

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, (June 1, 2007) – Contour Products™, a leader in the ergonomic support and comfort industry, introduced today the new Butterfly 3-in-1 Massage Pillow™. This product is the next generation of the popular Contour Leg Pillow, which continues to sell successfully at numerous major retail chains nationwide.

The pillow’s hinged design, which allows it to open and close to provide comfort to different parts of the legs, prompted the “Butterfly” name and the application for patents on this unique innovation. The pillow’s massage feature also offers additional relaxation for maximum comfort.

In the closed position, the Butterfly Leg Pillow rests between the user’s thighs for better low body support and hip alignment, just like the original leg pillow. This position relaxes back muscles and reduces painful pressure on hips, knees and joints. In the open position, the pillow can sit on the floor and cradle the user’s feet for a soothing massage or lie under the user’s ankles to elevate the legs, relieving pressure on the lower back. People suffering from swelling or edema in their legs also benefit from assuming this leg-elevation position. The massage function can be activated in any of the positions with just the flick of a switch.

“This product takes the idea of the original leg pillow several steps further,” Scott Davis, president and CEO of Contour Products, said. “The item’s ability to convert from a traditional leg pillow to a foot- or calve-massage pillow separates it from anything else in the marketplace.”

When opened to cradle the thighs, calves or heels, the pillow’s massage feature can relax tense muscles in each leg while the user lays on his or her back or stomach. When closed, the user can place the pillow between the legs for a soothing inner-thigh massage. The pillow’s memory foam molds to fit the exact shape of the user’s knees, thighs, calves, ankles or heels for a custom fit, superior support and unsurpassed comfort.

Buy the new Butterfly Multi Purpose Massaging Leg Pillow Here


Product & Sales Contact:
Joe Safrit, jsafrit@contourliving.com, (704) 527-6133 ext. 197
Media Contacts:
Diane Dancer, diane@cobertpr.com, (214) 674-8970
Heidi Cobert, heidi@cobertpr.com, (440) 309-5703

Continue Reading

Rationale and efficacy of conservative therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Rationale and efficacy of conservative therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Kitchin et al. Arch Internal Med (1991).

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux disease or in mild cases heartburn, is an increasingly common condition in the developed world, characterized by frequent regurgitations of stomach acid into the lower esophagus. GERD can often be caused by a hiatal hernia, a condition where part of the stomach slips above the diaphragm to contact the esophagus. If left untreated, damage caused by severe GERD can cause replacement of the normal cells lining the esophagus by other tissue types (a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus), eventually leading to an increased risk of esophageal cancer. While acid-suppressive medications can be used, their potential side effects and complications can be avoided through a variety of simpler treatment measures. This review article finds significant clinical evidence for the efficacy of lifestyle-based treatments for heartburn and GERD, including elevation of the head of the bed.

Sleeping on a wedge diminishes exposure of the esophagus to refluxed acid. Hamilton et al. Digestive Dis Sciences (1988).

Using continuous monitoring of pH (acidity) within the esophagus among several alternative positions at rest, this randomized clinical trial detected a significant decrease in the time that the esophagus was exposed to highly acid conditions when using a foam wedge to elevate the head, and also showed a decrease in the time necessary for the acid to be cleared. Interestingly, use of a wedge-shaped mechanism was significantly more effective than elevation through the use of standard bed blocks.

See how the Mattress Genie Wedge Can Help

Davis C. Ryman

MD/PhD candidate, Case Western Reserve University

Lamb lab, Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics

dryman@po.cwru.edu

Continue Reading