It doesn’t matter if your mattress was custom made for you – if you’re using the wrong pillow, you aren’t experiencing the highest quality of sleep. A simple pillow switch could make all the difference! Especially if you wake up stiff and sore in the neck and back. There are tons of different styles of pillows to choose from and maybe you already have your favorite, but what are you missing out on? What problems could be solved with a different pillow?
While it usually isn’t the cause, the wrong pillow can exacerbate lots of problems for your sleep hygiene, including neck, back, and shoulder pain and numbness, headaches, sneezing, and wheezing. Wheezing, especially, could be contributing to an air flow disturbance, irritating an existing sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.
Your pillow should be soft or firm enough to support your head and align your neck and spine. Let’s go over some of the different pillow styles and which ones coordinate best with the way you sleep.
SLEEPING STYLES
Front / Stomach
If you sleep on your stomach, you’ll want to choose a softer pillow, like down or some synthetic/down-alternative version. Some tummy sleepers might find that they don’t even need a pillow beneath their head, but specialists suggest an almost flat pillow to tuck beneath your stomach. This will help you avoid lower back pain.
Back
If you’re a back sleeper, you, like the stomach sleepers, will want to look for a thinner pillow. This will prevent your head from being thrown too far forward. Another thing you might want to look for is a pillow with an extra loft in the lower third of the pillow to cradle your neck.
Side
If you sleep on your side, you’ll need a much thicker, firmer pillow to keep the head, neck, and spine in alignment. You need this kind of support to fill the space between your ear and your outside shoulder. Sleep specialists also recommend putting a smaller pillow between the knees for extra support.
After you’ve determined the size and shape that’s best for you, you have to consider what’s inside. Which stuffing option is going to work best for you? Take a look at your choices.
PILLOW MATERIALS
Foam
These pillows are softer, and low-quality versions will break down over time. When it comes to these pillows, you do get what you pay for. You want to choose a foam pillow with a high-density foam, which you will find offered by top mattress and pillow brands. These include Tempur-Pedic, Aireloom, and Simmons, all of which you can find at a Star Furniture location.
Memory Foam
This material has grown in popularity because of its flexible, form-fitting properties. Memory foam pillows reduce pressure points on the body, constantly forming and shaping as you move throughout the night. You may want to consider that this material does retain heat, and some sleepers get hot throughout the night when using this type of pillow. Brands like Serta have collections (such as the iComfort collection) that use a combination of open cell memory foam and infused gel to regulate the heat. If you sleep warm, you may want to consider a pillow with this added feature.
Latex
Believe it or not, Latex is a naturally anti-microbial and anti-bacterial product. It comes from the liquid produced by the rubber tree, which is tapped and collected, much like tree sap. This rubber tree liquid is nature’s way of protecting the trees from contracting mold, mildew, and bacteria. Pillow manufacturers took a page out of Mother Nature’s book when they first created products out of this material for human benefit. Additionally, Latex manufacturers can actually make Latex that is very soft or very hard, making it a great, sanitary choice for some!
Wool / Cotton
A wool or cotton pillow, like a latex one, will also resist dust mites and mold. This material is hypoallergenic, and also quite firm as well. Those who prefer a softer pillow should consider other options.
Feather / Down
Though many individuals cannot use a feather pillow because of allergies, many specialists recommend them for getting the best night’s sleep. They are firm, yet soft, and a great universal option. Because of the loose feathers inside, you can move them around to get more support where you most need it.
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