You must have spent a lot on buying the prettiest and the most comfortable nightwear for yourself. You must also have bought an expensive mattress to make sure you sleep well throughout the night. Have you ever thought about your pillow? Getting a proper pillow for yourself is very important. Your neck and back should be in proper position while you sleep, or you might wake up with a neck sprain or headache.
You should not only choose one according to your needs and habits but also keep in mind the doctor’s recommendations about the types of pillows that should be used. There are a few things that should be considered when choosing a pillow. You can also check the best pillow reviews on the web before going to the store to buy one. Here are a few things that will help you choose the best one for yourself.
Firstly, you need to discover your preferred sleeping position. You might be sleeping in different positions throughout the night but there must be one position that helps you relax the most. The position in which you are the most comfortable sleeping in. You can be a side sleeper, a stomach sleeper or a back sleeper. You can also consult your partner to know the about the position you mostly sleep through the night.
Once decided, you should find out the pillow that best matches your preferred sleeping posture. If you are a stomach sleeper, you would be the most comfortable in sleeping with a pillow that is thin, soft and flat. Some people also opt for not using a pillow at all. The pillow that is soft will help keep your neck and spine in a right position.
A moderately thick pillow of medium thickness would be the best choice if you are a back sleeper. If you take a very thick pillow it would put your head too far from the surface your back is resting on. A too soft pillow will also disturb the curvature of your neck spine causing discomfort. The pillow should be moderate in thickness and firmness to help the back sleepers sleep in a proper position.
A thicker and a firm pillow is required for side sleepers. It will make sure that your body and your neck are aligned properly and that your spine is kept in its normal curvature.
The next thing that is important while choosing a pillow is the material it is made up of or the filling inside it.
Feather filled pillows are those that are made up of a duck’s plumage. Since they are natural and breathable, they are preferred by hot sleepers. Their firm forms can be used by side sleepers and the softer forms are for the stomach and back sleepers. These pillows can exacerbate allergies. So if you are allergic to bird feather or dust, you should avoid using this type.
Pillows made up of cotton or wool can be used by people who like firm pillows or those who have certain allergies. Since these are firmer than the feather ones, they might not suit the stomach sleepers.
The mold resistant or the latex pillows are made of rubber latex. They are also preferred by hot sleepers as they are cooler than other pillows. They can range from being soft to firm and are available in various shapes and sizes.
Synthetic pillows, also called the memory foam pillows are also available in the market. These are made up of chemicals and primarily Polyurethane. These are also available in various shapes and sizes. Memory foam pillows are firm due to their dense material. They are not for hot sleepers as they are not breathable.
These are some basic pillow types. However, there are specialized pillows for people who have certain health issues. If you know someone who snores or suffers from Sleep Apnea, anti-snore pillows would be the best for them. These pillows keep the heads in a position which opens the airway. Similarly, there are pregnancy, travel, Cervical and several different types of pillows made for special purposes.
There is a wide variety of pillows available these days however, choosing the best one can be quite a task. Searching the web for the options available can guide you better and help you decide of what type you actually want.
