The best way to tilt a pine bed (which may not be strong enough) is to use a plywood wedge under the mattress. 3/4 inch ply should be string enough. Use 6 inch timner at head and 3 inch in middle.
Heart rate decrease by 10-12 beats per minute is an affect of inclined therapy. However, the stroke volume increases, so although the heart beats less, the stroke volume of blood increases. So circulation improves with a lower bpm.
Warmer hands and feet and colour changes reported confirm this.
Respiration rate drops also by 4-5 breaths per minute. This is because the lungs inflate and deflate more efficently and this takes a little longer.
Both of these points were also confirmed at Derriford Hospital in the recovery room after my son underwent surgery for a broken wrist.
They had his bed tilted down and said this was to prevent him from choking on vomit. Convinced the nurse to tilt the bed the other way and told her what whould happen to heart and resiration rates. And sid he would come round within a few minutes.
He did and she was shocked and ran around telling everyone, even told my wife the I was an incredible man
But of course my wife already knew this 
Yet they have probably continued to tilt the bed the other way for everyone else.If someone could get their partner to confirm this by counting resperation and heart rate against a clock/watch when they fall asleep it would be very useful for the forum.
It worked exactly the same on 2 sleeping bull terriers, at an angle their heart and respiration dropped by exactly the same measure.
Andrew
