Picking out a new pillow is a tough job. We've all had that moment in the department store - poking a plastic-wrapped pillow as if we made up our own specially patented squeeze test.
The truth is that most of us don't know a thing about choosing the best pillow for us. We just look at the product description and think "Soft is nice. I must be a soft pillow person." Realistically, there are far more qualities to look for in a pillow than how fluffy it feels.
No matter the material or the design, all pillows should allow your head to rest four to six inches above the mattress. This resting position reduces pressure points and muscle fatigue because it supports the spine's natural alignment.
Depending on your sleeping position, the construction, materials, support and design of a pillow have a significant influence on a good night's sleep.
Pillows For Back Sleepers - As a back sleeper, you can choose from a wide range of down, memory foam or artificial fibers designed to support your neck, head and shoulders. Find a pillow of medium firmness and place it a little lower than it would be in a side position. Many back sleepers claim placing another pillow underneath their legs makes them more comfortable.
Side sleepers need pillows with medium to firm support to cradle the head and neck without displacing the shoulders. Posturepedic pillows decrease the fiber concentration in the center of the pillow to offer broad support and even weight distribution for most side sleeping positions.
If you're a stomach sleeper, you want to look for something soft and flat, like a memory foam pillow. Stomach sleepers tend to have unnecessary shoulder or neck pain because the head rests at an awkward angle above the body. Memory foam reduces this issue by cradling the head and neck at the shoulder line, providing shallow and soft spinal alignment.
Using a pillow protector can help your pillows last up to three to five years. You can wash your pillows to keep them clean, but you should consider replacing them over the five year mark.
Finding the right pillow for your sleeping position is important. When you keep your spinal alignment, you can reduce stress, retain energy and improve your overall health. Throw out that old lumpy pillow and start your day on the right side of the bed.
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Sleep sound with Pluto Graham by your side. If Pluto isn't sleeping all day, he's writing about how awesome sleeping would be in top of the line
bedding.
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