How to choose a pillow?
Table of content:
- Important factors for choosing
- Materials
- Firmness
- Pillow for your sleep position
- When should I change my pillow?
How important is a pillow for a good night’s sleep?
In purely technical terms, the pillow takes up 25% of the surface area of your mattress. That’s a quarter of the length of the mattress. So it is extremely important to choose the right pillow for you.
Just like the mattress, the pillow should provide the comfort you need and support your neck and head well. When you are lying down, your head should be in the same position to your spine and shoulders as when you are standing. The right pillow will help you wake up awake and fresh.
Although today there are still many lovers of feather or down pillows, anatomical pillows are gaining more and more followers and fans.
This is due to several factors:
- Back pain, especially in the neck area. Sleeping on ordinary pillows for these people often leads to aggravation of the disease, pinched nerves and a number of other inconveniences.Allergy.
- For allergy sufferers, down and feathers are usually the strongest allergen, and allergies can be either permanent or with periodic exacerbations. For these people, anatomical pillows made of hypoallergenic materials are a real salvation.
- The desire to sleep properly. Although a mattress is necessary, it is not enough to achieve the desired goal:
- To effortlessly bring the spine and muscles to the right state. However, the mattress does not provide support for the upper cervical spine. This is where an anatomical pillow comes into play. The purpose of such a pillow is to keep the vertebrae of the cervical spine in line with the spine and not allow them to bend, because when the cervical vertebrae are bent, we squeeze the nerve endings and compress the blood vessels that can no longer supply the brain with the necessary blood supply, and the result is pain, migraines, confusion and sclerosis.
The most important factors that influence the choice of a pillow are its shape, the material it is made of, its firmness and the position you are used to sleeping in.
Let us look at each of these aspects in detail.
The shape Orthopaedic pillows come in both the usual rectangular shape and a special ergonomic shape. An ergonomically shaped pillow usually has two rollers with different heights. As a result, it optimally adapts to the cervical spine and ensures that the spine remains in the correct position. This variant is extremely comfortable for side sleepers and also helps with pain in the cervical spine. A pillow with a simple rectangular or square shape is more of a familiar classic. However, many prefer it because it is more comfortable for people who sleep on their back or stomach.
Materials used in pillows:
As for the materials used, pillows are most often made of natural latex or Memory Foam and its analogues.
Latex is a natural material with high comfort. It is hypoallergenic, durable and provides good support.
Memory Foam is a modern artificial material with a “memory” effect. Under the influence of the heat of the human body, it becomes very elastic and takes a shape that perfectly adapts to the body’s contours. Pillows made of material with a “memory” effect have high thermal conductivity and improved ventilation. They provide high comfort of sleep and increase vitality.
Often a gel is used in combination with a memory material. The gel-based material has a special three-dimensional molecular structure and therefore has a strong cooling effect (by 1.5 – 2 °C) due to increased thermal conductivity, absorbs and partially dissipates the heat released by the human body during sleep. The cooling effect in gel pillows helps to reduce perspiration and thus significantly reduces the occurrence of microorganisms at the points of contact between the skin and the pillowcase.
The firmness of pillows.
Pillows often have a comfortable medium hardness, suitable for people of all ages and weights. Stiffness depends on the density of the material used. As a rule, pillows with low stiffness are made of natural latex.
Not so long ago, children’s pillows also appeared on the market, which differ from the “adults” by their smaller size and lower material density, which makes them softer.
How to choose a pillow according to the sleeping position?
Pillows for side sleepers
For example, if you sleep on your side, you’ll probably prefer a firmer and higher pillow to balance the distance between your shoulders and head. Check out a similar option here.
How to choose a pillow for back sleepers?
If you sleep on your back, you should choose a medium-firm pillow. Take a look at our suggestion here.
How to choose a pillow for stomach sleeping?
If you prefer sleeping on your stomach, you should choose a soft pillow that will relieve your neck. You can see such a model here.
When should I change my pillow?
How long a pillow can be used depends largely on its quality. It is advisable to replace it every year. You can easily determine if your pillow needs to be replaced by folding it in half and pressing until all the air has escaped. If it regains its original shape, it does not need to be replaced, if not, it is time to choose a new one.
As you use it, you may notice various signs of use. If you notice any of the following features on your pillow, it’s time to replace it if:
- It does not feel as comfortable as it used to;
- There are visible signs of soiling;
- You feel lumps and bumps;
It should be noted that any pillow, even the most anatomical, should be comfortable for you. As with the choice of a mattress or a regular pillow, everything is individual. What is ideal for one person may be uncomfortable for another. The pillow should fit you in size, shape and other features. Therefore, before buying, we advise you to visit a shop near you and test different products.
