How to Find the Perfect Pillow That Suits Your Style of Sleep
The perfect pillow can actually make a huge difference in whether or not you get a better night's sleep. Here's how to find the right pillow for you.
The perfect pillow not only enhances the quality of your sleep but it helps provide a healthy rest and revitalization during your sleep time. Sleeping on the best pillow
for your own particular sleep style can actually help you
consistently sleep better.
On the other hand, a pillow that is not suited for you can cause
health problems, disturb your sleep pattern and make you less
productive during the day. Health issues such as neck, arm and
shoulder pain or numbness, wheezing, sneezing, coughing and
headaches can actually be complicated by the wrong pillow.
Dr. Andrew Hecht, orthopaedic surgeon at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York states,
"A bad pillow won't be the cause of any of these problems, but using the incorrect pillow can certainly exacerbate many of the underlying problems linked to these symptoms, and it certainly can keep you from getting a good night's rest."
Allergies, fibromyalgia and other chronic syndromes can be worsened as well, especially if it's an older pillow that is past is usefulness. Pillow material can typically collect dust mites, dead skin cells, fungi, mildew and mold. No wonder people with allergies often feel worse upon awakening!
How often should you buy a new pillow?
Periodically exchanging your old pillow for a new one is one way to lessen the severity of these health problems. In fact, a good rule of thumb for when to buy a new pillow, is to get a new one when your old one becomes 12 to 18 months old. If your pillow is over a year and a half old, it's time to get a new one!
How can personal sleep style affect your sleep?
Aside from purchasing a new pillow every year to a year and a half, what else can you do to make sure you're using the right pillow? Choosing the pillow that suits your sleep style is very important.
The most important function a good pillow can do is to keep your head in the correct alignment while sleeping. Chiropractors will tell you that it's important to keep your head in 'neutral alignment' so that the head is not strained out of natural position either forward or backward. It should rest on your shoulders in a relaxed, neutral position. The right pillow for your body can provide the proper support for correct sleep time alignment.
Follow these simple tips for selecting the right pillow for your sleep style:
- Stomach sleepers - If you generally sleep on your stomach, you should select a flat, thin pillow, or perhaps use no pillow at all! Some people may even need to put a small pillow under their stomach to keep their spine pushed up in alignment.
- Back sleepers - People who sleep on their backs should choose somewhat thin pillows with an extra bit of thickness or loft in the bottom of the pillow. This will help provide support to the neck, while keeping the head from being pushed forward.
- Side sleepers - A thicker, firmer pillow is best for those who sleep on their side. This provides support from the ear to the shoulders, and keeps the neck in alignment while sleeping. This also keeps the neck and shoulders from being stiff and sore the next morning.
What about filling material?
Other issues to consider, of course, is the filling or stuffing. There are many types of fill material such as goose down, hypodown, latex, down alternative or polyester, wool, cotton, silk, buckwheat and more. Each type of material has its pros and cons to each sleep style. For example, a natural latex pillow that is contoured for a side sleeper, can be exceptionally beneficial to provide neck and shoulder support.
On the other hand, a down filled pillow may be perfect for those who sleep on their back and need a little loft for neck support.
One sleep expert suggests that each person should have a sort of 'pillow wardrobe' from which to choose on any given day, since they may want to change pillows from time to time, depending on how they feel.
Perhaps one day you may need the extra support of a latex or cotton pillow because your neck and shoulders hurt. The next day you may feel fine and want to sleep on ultra fine luxury bedding like a hypodown pillow.
When searching for that perfect pillow, remember to keep your particular sleep style and health needs in mind above all else!
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