What is a Wedge Pillow?

A wedge pillow is a triangular-shaped pillow that comes in different sizes and has a variety of uses. Wedge pillows are most commonly used by people to lay or sleep on an incline with their heads elevated. Others may use these pillows for support as they sit up in bed. These pillows can also be used to elevate and support the user’s legs when they are laying down.

What is a Wedge Pillow Made Out Of?

Wedge pillows are typically made using foam or memory foam. Making wedge pillows out of foam or memory foam allows the pillow to maintain its triangular shape, which is the key to its usefulness. Some wedge pillows use other materials for fill but still have a triangular shape.

Wedge pillows come in different sizes. So each person should be able to find one to suit their specific needs.

What Are Wedge Pillows Used For? Who Should Get One?

Wedge pillows have a variety of uses.

Some people use larger wedge pillows to help them better sit upright in bed. Other people will use them to recline as they lie in bed watching television, reading, or sleep. Their foam or memory foam construction offers great support, which makes this type of pillow a great choice for many back sleepers.

As stated earlier, wedge pillows come in different sizes. For sleeping, some people will prefer a smaller pillow that has an incline that is not so steep.

Benefits of Wedge Pillows Include Help with Certain Medical Conditions

Since they elevate your head and upper body, wedge pillows can help to alleviate symptoms for a variety of medical conditions. Many people who suffer from the following conditions have used wedge pillows with good results:

• acid reflux
• hiatal hernia
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – The Mayo Clinic reports that using a wedge pillow to elevate your body 6 to 9 inches from the waist up while sleeping can help reduce the frequency of heartburn.
• glaucoma – A study was done showing that sleeping on a wedge pillow that raised a person’s head 20 degrees decreased nocturnal intraocular pressure (IOP) compared with lying flat in people with and without glaucoma. Having a reduced IOP might help control or reduce the risk of glaucoma.
• sinus congestion – By elevating your head and upper body with a wedge pillow you can let gravity work for you by relieving pressure on your sinuses and allowing them to drain. This is true if you are battling cold or flu symptoms or any other sinus-related problem.
• surgery recovery – If you or a loved one is recovering from a surgery that requires long periods of rest and lying down a wedge pillow is an excellent option.

There are even specialty wedge pillows that are used for leg support.

Can Side Sleepers Use Wedge Pillows?

What can you do if you are a side sleeper and need to sleep with your head elevated? Can you use a wedge pillow? If you look at most wedge pillows you might not think that that it is possible to use a wedge pillow without contorting and hurting your back. While that is a valid point, you should know that they make wedge pillows that are specifically for side sleepers.

These pillows are usually longer and many will also be contoured to specifically be more comfortable for side sleepers.

Here is a great example of a highly rated wedge pillow that is made specifically for side sleepers.

Finally, here are some of the top-selling wedge pillows on Amazon: