Mattress Wedges  

Elevation of your upper body during sleep can help reduce symptoms of acid reflux, breathing difficulties, and snoring. To obtain this optimum positioning many products have been developed. Using mattress wedges may provide a very convenient method, over using additional items, as they can be placed once and the benefits realized each evening. They also provide a practical alternative to the purchase of an expensive hospital style adjustable bed. 

One of the most interesting stories lies behind a model known as the Comfort Wedge which was developed by Link Bowling of Aurora, IL. Because of discomfort while sitting up in bed and having used stacked pillows and other devices, Mr. Bowling wanted something that could be easily inserted, was fully adjustable and affordable for all. After over nine months of research, experimentation, and finding a manufacturer, he had his idea patented and he released his innovative device. The Comfort Wedge is made of heavy-duty 16-guage vinyl with an electric pump that has a shut-off valve. That was one of the biggest hurdles according to Mr. Bowling, finding an electric pump that was not overly expensive.  

The vinyl wedge is placed between your existing box springs and mattress one time. The air pump will allow adjustments up to 27" elevation (50 degrees) in under a minute. It can be stopped at any point and easily deflated until you find your perfect position. Of course, it can also be used at the foot of the bed if one suffers from diabetes or is recovering from a leg injury. This system can also be easily packed and carried with you in your travels. As of this writing, there is a special offer available where you can get any sized Comfort Wedge, Twin, Full or Queen online for $149, which includes shipping and handling. Along this same concept, Contor offers the “Mattress Genie" which features a hand-held unit for inflation and deflation. They claim it will support up to 1,000 pounds. 

Other options include the wedge being placed on top of the mattress itself.  A company, Foam Support, offers full-sized wedges that range from 36" to 80 " long and 39" to 80" wide, depending upon the bed size, Twin, Full, Queen or King. They offer a range of thickness from 4" to 16" so most any sleep problem can be addressed. They also come with hooks or ropes to firmly secure them to the mattress.

The last option for mattress wedges would include those made of firm foam that could be placed between the mattress and box springs at either the foot or head of the bed. It will be very important to decide ahead of time just how much of an angle will provide you with the best results as they obviously will not be adjustable. These foam wedges also can be simply placed on top of your mattress and adjusted as needed.