Choosing the Right Pillow for Quality Sleep
Quality sleep is difficult to achieve nowadays, especially with all of the stressors in our day-to-day lives. When you have the right pillow, you’re able to at least have the right support, stability, and comfort you need to have a full night’s sleep. Throughout this guide, you’ll find the benefits of various pillows and how they can improve your sleep quality.
Why You Should Choose the Right Pillow for Your Sleep Needs
Choosing the right pillow for your sleep needs is vital to a good night’s sleep. Without the right pillow, you run the risk of not achieving REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and not healing throughout the night with all of the benefits sleep has to offer. Below, we’ll be exploring the various aspects of a good pillow: comfort, support, & stability
Comfort
We all envision the perfect pillow. One which has the right level of comfort and one we look forward to resting our head on each and every night we go to bed. The definition of “comfort” varies from person to person, so your definition may be different depending on the individual preferences you’ve acquired over the years.
Support
Support is crucial for all of us, whether we prefer a softer pillow, or a firmer pillow; we still need support for our head and neck. Support in a pillow can be determined by the pillow’s fill, it’s size, it’s age, etc… If you’re noticing your pillow doesn’t have the same support it used to, it’s most likely time to upgrade to a new pillow. The fill of your pillow is important when it comes to support as well. If your pillow is down-filled, you may find yourself fluffing it up more often than if it’s a composite-hybrid pillow. The size of the pillow also influences the weight distribution upon the pillow from your head and neck. This in turn may influence how much your pillow sinks or compresses over time.
Stability
Stability within your pillow is one of the additional foundations you need when it comes to having a quality pillow to lay your head on each night. Stability is typically derived from the inherent structure of the pillow. Some pillow makers have proprietary technology which may help maintain stability and form of the pillow you choose. It’s best to do your research on which pillows match your preferences and try them out for yourself.
Back Sleepers
If you’re a back sleeper, you’ll most likely benefit from a pillow which provides a much more stable support system. The reason behind this is the fact all of your weight is being displaced by your head and neck. This in turn will likely cause your pillow to compress throughout the evening. If you have a supportive, stable pillow; you’ll be less likely to wake up with a stiff neck and possibly obtain a better sleep quality.
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers have the advantage of displacing some of the weight throughout their shoulders and neck area, yet this can also be the inevitable cause of discomfort in some individuals. Finding the right pillow which allows side sleepers to best distribute weight evenly throughout their neck, back, and spine will allow for a better night’s rest.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers need just as much support as the rest of us, yet it’s typically unique to how a stomach sleeper actually sleeps. This can be determined by experimenting with various pillows of size, shape, and firmness. From there, you’ll probably be able to select a top pillow out of your choices.
When Should You Replace Your Pillow?
You should replace your pillow every year or so. Pillows attract quite a bit of dander, dust, and even mites can develop! Overall, even if you’re not going to replace your pillow because you believe they’re still comfortable; you should consider replacing them for hygienic reasons alone.
Choosing Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Your Neck, Back, and Spine Needs
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DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.