Pillows: Choose Well To Sleep Better
Poorly adapted to our needs, a pillow may not only affect the quality of sleep but cause different health problems. Since we spend a third of our life in bed, we have every interest in taking the time to choose the right one!
Aesthetics Don’t Rhyme With Comfort:
We can’t imagine a cozy bed without representing it with several bouncy and soft pillows. However, the pillow that appeals for its aesthetic qualities is often not the same that suits the needs of the sleeper.
“People have several useless pillows, often bought on promotion, regardless of the criteria that should influence their choice, without checking the form, shape or structure and the comfort of the pillow.”
The result, despite the surplus of pillows in our homes, many of us have not yet found the right.
A bad pillow creates discomfort and forces the body to adjust continuously during the night. Muscle stiffness, shallow sleep or the feeling of being more tired when you wake up the next morning. Now it’s time to change your pillow.
Please note, when the column is not well aligned, it puts pressure on the spine. Are you aware that it is not only the discomfort, but it also makes you sleep less restful?
The body also needs good blood circulation and oxygenation to eliminate its waste. Tension on the joints and muscles hinders this process.
In addition, according to the Respirologists, the position of the head can have an influence on snoring, sleep apnea and Gastroesophageal reflux, not to mention that the pillow can promote or make worse dust mite and dust allergies.
A Question of Morphology:
Each frame has its particularities: the length of the neck, the width of the shoulders and the weight of the head are the features that must be taken into account when choosing a pillow. To find out if a model suits you, and since many stores have non-refund policies on this type of item, you should not hesitate to test the material before taking out your wallet.
To make a good evaluation, you must first identify a mattress that corresponds to the one have at home because the height of the head will be higher or lower depending on its firmness, according to the experts.
You will then choose a pillow according to the way of sleeping. The best positions are to be lying on the back or the side. “The abdominal position is to be avoided because it imposes a significant stress on the cervical highs.
“To avoid the abdominal position, you can put a pillow between your legs or use a blanket or pillow facing you like a fortress.”
Whether sleeping on your back or side, the column should remain in a neutral position when the head is placed on the pillow. It’s all about thickness.
If we sleep on our back, we should have a fist and a half (ours) of clearance between the chin and the breastbone. If space is bigger, the pillow is too thin; less, it is too high.
When sleeping on the side, the nose and chin should be in the same axis as the sternum. An inclined neck is a sign that the thickness of the pillow is not adequate.
Good Pillow will Promote a Deep and Less Turbulent Sleep:
A good pillow will promote a deep and less turbulent sleep. Still, few people stay static all night long. Some models of pillows are therefore configured to meet the needs of versatile sleepers.
Whatever model you choose, you still have to use it correctly. The pillow should fill the space under the neck to support it well and the shoulder should be positioned at the edge of the pillow, not on it. As for the head, it should be centered on the pillow, unless using a model suitable for both the sleep on the back and side. In this case, the pillow will be thinner in the center: when lying on its side, it will rather put the head on the edges of the pillow.
What Lies Under The Pillow:
There are two categories of pillows, those of comfort type and those of support type advocated by health specialists interviewed. Nothing prevents, however, to find happiness in one or the other of the two categories.
Let’s get the explanations of the advantages and disadvantages of the most common materials.
Comfort Pillows:
Synthetic Stuffing:
Advantages: The interest of these pillows is primarily decorative. They are inexpensive.
Disadvantages: They do not offer good support. Their durability is low if they are used for sleeping.
Durability: From 6 months to 1 year
Wool, Silk and Other Natural Fibers:
Advantages: They regulate the temperature and are more durable than their synthetic equivalents.
Disadvantages: They are not firm enough to offer good support. Uncovered, they are a prime location for mites.
Durability: Two or three years
Down and Feather:
Advantages: They are appreciated for their swelling and their cozy appearance. A distinction is; however, necessary between the down and the feather. As it has no ridges, the down let’s pass the air. The point here is that it offers better support but breathes less well. Hybrid pillow designs are often found in which the feather is concentrated in the center of the pillow and covered with down for comfort.
Disadvantages: These pillows are too soft to offer good support. They can sting if they are in pen. Avoid use for people with allergies and respiratory sensitivities.
Durability: two or three years
MicroGel Fiber:
Advantages: They offer the same cozy feeling as those stuffed with feathers and down, but in synthetic version, hypoallergenic. They regulate the temperature.
Disadvantages: just as in the case of down and wool, their firmness is insufficient to provide good support.
Latex:
Advantages: It is durable and comes in natural versions. They conform well to the forms of the head and offer a good maintenance while repelling the mites.
Disadvantage: Can give the impression of rebounding.
Durability: Four or five years
Memory Foam:
Advantages: It provides good support and doesn’t create pressure points since they are molded to the head. Good quality foams are durable and keep their shape for a long time.
Disadvantages: It is sensitive to moisture and salts in sweat, and often hot. There are several qualities of memory foam, some of which are petroleum. Low-end models degrade quickly.
Durability: From 3 to 5 years
The Coldest Pillow and Coldest Wedge Pillow:
The Coldest Water Company believes in developing the best pillow. It is built of the highest quality materials, and it is planned to keep you cooler at night.
The latest technology Coldest Fusion Weave™ and the Coldest Gel Fluffs are used in making these pillows. Unlike gel pillows their coldness degrades over time, the coldest pillow does not.
A cold rest helps the body recover faster while allowing for deeper sleep. If you love The Coldest Water Bottle or The Coldest Ice Pack, you’ll love the coldest pillow too.
The Opinion of the Specialist:
The pillow should be firm enough to support the weight of the head. The rest is a question of comfort and durability.
Proper use of your pillow also means maintaining it properly. “To reduce dust mite and dust allergies, hypoallergenic equipment should be promoted or a cover fitted. The literature is clear and shows a decrease in allergy symptoms, better sleep and less fatigue in these conditions.
A cover can be washed every two weeks, which is not the case for a pillow. Very few models tolerate a wash. It will, therefore, be beneficial to cover the pillow to protect it, and thus its health, by preventing dust, dead skin and moisture from lodging with a permeable film and impermeable to liquids.
Cover Your Pillow:
Covering your pillow with a cover is also a way to extend the duration of your purchase. “An average of one-third of a cup of sweat is evacuated overnight. Sweat becomes embedded in the pillow and creates a moist environment in which bacteria and mold can grow. It also contains salts that deteriorate materials and alter their quality and density, “says Experts.
In spite of all this good care, it will be necessary to change the pillow after a certain time, often around two years, according to the type of padding or fabrics are chosen and according to the heat and the pressure exerted by the head. Physiological changes may also require a new purchase, weight gain, for example, will change one’s needs.
To find out if your pillow is still doing its job, the best way is still to evaluate whether it meets the same criteria as at the time of purchase. Take the test! And Replace if required with the Coldest Pillow!