We all have that experience, staying somewhere other than or own bed and finding that the provided pillow is either too thin or too thick for us, and we can just not seem to get any sleep. Pillows, in many respects, can determine the quality of sleep we get and in some cases, the amount of pain that we might wake up in. Choosing the right pillow can go a long way in making sure that you are getting the best possible sleep and that you aren’t hurting your neck or back while you are trying to sleep.
Using The Wrong Pillow Can Be a Literal Pain
Having the wrong pillow can make us feel worse when we wake up then when we went to bed. For example, a wrong pillow can cause neck pain, shoulder, and arm numbness and even headaches. These are typically due to our necks being in weird positions for long periods of time or having to change the way we sleep to accommodate the pillow. These aches and pains can all be relieved by changing your pillow type.
Benefits Of Using The Right Pillow
The right pillow can also help you stay asleep, which is essential to improve the quality of your sleep. Losing sleep can also affect your body’s ability to perform crucial tasks, such as muscle repair. Pillows can also affect those with CPAP. CPAP is a condition where you stop breathing periodically during sleep. Pillows can have an impact on the machine that is helping you sleep, such as knocking your mask off, which can cause you to wake up more.
Pillows can also help with heartburn and sinus problems. They do this by helping elevate your body at the proper angles. These can impact your sleep and eliminating some of these problems can significantly improve your sleep.
While we have talked about how pillows can affect your sleep, it is essential to know how to choose the right pillow for you. Well, this depends on a variety of factors, such as your sleeping position and how big you are. For some sleepers, they will need a thinner pillow, while others will need a thicker pillow.
Sleep Styles and Pillow Types
Stomach Sleepers: Stomach sleepers will want a thin and flat pillow so you don’t wake with neck pain. If your mattress is firm, consider sleeping with NO pillow.
Side Sleepers: Side sleepers should look for an overstuffed pillow that provides extra support for the neck. An overstuffed pillow will also help you not experience shoulder pain.
Back Sleepers: Memory pillows are a great option for back sleepers, as is a medium-stuffed pillow. You want the space between the bed and your neck to be filled, so consider that when choosing the right pillow.
Sleep is an important bodily function that we all do and can have a significant impact on our overall health. Choosing the right pillow can make sure that you sleep better, which in turn can make sure that you are living a healthier life.
