The Impact of Pillows in Your Sleep Quality, and How to Find the Right One for You
Most people hope to get home after a busy day, plop down in bed, and slip into sweet dreams. Unfortunately, there are many factors at play that can keep you tossing and turning for most of the night instead, and the quality of your pillow has a big part in it.
All pillows are not created equal. Some are constructed with low-quality materials that fail to provide the support and comfort you need to get a good night’s rest. Worse yet, it could even negatively impact your health, creating issues over the long term.
Over time, poor sleeping habits—a combination of low-quality bedding, pillow, and bad sleeping positions—can lead to a host of sleep conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia, and body pains.
With that in mind, we talk about how pillows can help you get some much-needed, good night's rest.
1. Thin, Low-Profile Pillows to Limit Stress on Neck and Spine for Back Sleepers
If you’re a back sleeper, this category of pillows can help reduce the pressure on your neck and spine by limiting the amount of body surface contact with the pillow. It can also lower the risk of you rolling onto your back during the night, which can cause you to wake up in the morning with stiff joints from awkward sleeping positions.
You don't want to buy a pillow that is too thick, as it can cause your muscles to tense up and even lead to some issues in your neck. A thin pillow will allow your head to rest on the bed while keeping your neck in a neutral position. This keeps your back and shoulders muscles from tightening up and reduces pressure.
2. Tuck Pillows in Between Legs and Use Thin Pillows for Narrow Shoulders, or Thicker Pillows for Side Sleepers with Broader Shoulders
Waking up with aches and pain in the shoulder area indicates that you’re sleeping with a pillow that is too thin or too flat. To remedy that, you can tuck a simple pillow between your legs to adjust your spine and ensure you get a good night’s sleep.
An even better way to ensure you get a good night’s sleep is to buy a pillow that suits the width of your shoulders. Narrow shoulders can benefit from thinner pillows, while broader shoulders will find more comfort in thicker pillows.
3. Put a Pillow Under Your Stomach for Stomach Sleepers
If you’re a stomach sleeper, you have a unique set of needs for your pillow. A lot of stomach sleepers like the feeling of having a pillow under their stomach to help keep the spine properly aligned.
However, if you have a bad back, you should avoid putting a pillow under your stomach, as it can cause your spine to tilt and put more pressure on your disc space. If you have a bad back, a better option would be to buy a pillow that transitions from thick to thin, as it will help you sleep in a position that is more aligned with your body.
The Bottom Line: Why Not Get the Best of All Sleeping Positions with a Pillow that can Support it All?
No magic pillow will turn a bad sleeper into a good one overnight. It takes time to get used to a new pillow. However, the more you know about how different kinds of pillows can suit your sleep needs, the easier it’ll be for you to find a pillow that can help you get a good night's rest every time you go with the sandman to la la land.
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