 Incline Board can help with the following: | |  | | | Circulation |  Phlebitis / Thrombophlebitis | Superficial phlebitis can be treated by elevating the leg frequently. It is not necessary to rest in bed but, every so often, rest with the leg 6-10 inches above the heart. This speeds the healing process. You can also lie on a slant board, if available, with your feet higher than your head for 15 minutes per day, especially if you stand on your feet a lot.
If you have to lie in bed for a long time, move your legs every so often to increase circulation. Elevate the foot of your bed by several inches to reduce venous pressure in your legs, which also reduces edema and pain. Do not use pillows under the legs, for doing so may reduce circulation. |
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Digestion |
Heartburn / GERD / Acid Reflux| | A May, 2006 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that the two most important behavioral changes that can reduce acid reflux are eating less and elevating your head while sleeping.
It has long been known that stomach acid tends to reflux more when one is lying flat. Based on this knowledge, a natural treatment was developed long ago for heartburn that occurs at night. By slipping a 4- to 8-inch high block beneath each of the legs at the head of the bed a slight incline is produced. Gravity may pull the stomach downward and minimize the amount of stomach acid that refluxes into the esophagus. Many people find that this technique provides the additonal relief they are looking for and prevents further esophageal erosion.
Another solution may be the use of a special pillow, such as the Prop Up Pillow. These pillows are specially designed to create an incline and relieve the heartburn discomfort found in several disorders. Pillows are useful when one's partner does not wish to sleep on an inclined bed. |
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KEY | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Edema
Abnormal accumulation of fluids within tissues resulting in swelling.
Esophagus (Esophageal)
Commonly called the "food pipe", it is a narrow muscular tube, about nine and a half inches long, that begins below the tongue and ends at the stomach. It consists of an outer layer of fibrous tissue, a middle layer containing smoother muscle, and an inner membrane, which contains numerous tiny glands. It has muscular sphincters at both its upper and lower ends. The upper sphincter relaxes to allow passage of swallowed food that is then propelled down the esophagus into the stomach by the wave-like peristaltic contractions of the esophageal muscles. There is no protective mucosal layer, so problems can arise when digestive acids reflux into the esophagus from the stomach.
Phlebitis
Inflammation of a vein. Symptoms of superficial phlebitis include pain, swelling, redness, and warmth around the affected vein. The vein feels hard to the touch because of the clotted blood.
Stomach
A hollow, muscular, J-shaped pouch located in the upper part of the abdomen to the left of the midline. The upper end (fundus) is large and dome-shaped; the area just below the fundus is called the body of the stomach. The fundus and the body are often referred to as the cardiac portion of the stomach. The lower (pyloric) portion curves downward and to the right and includes the antrum and the pylorus. The function of the stomach is to begin digestion by physically breaking down food received from the esophagus. The tissues of the stomach wall are composed of three types of muscle fibers: circular, longitudinal and oblique. These fibers create structural elasticity and contractibility, both of which are needed for digestion. The stomach mucosa contains cells which secrete hydrochloric acid and this in turn activates the other gastric enzymes pepsin and rennin. To protect itself from being destroyed by its own enzymes, the stomach’s mucous lining must constantly regenerate itself.
Venous
Pertaining to the veins.
Last updated: Nov 08, 2009
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