How Pillows Affect Our Health and Well-being

How Pillows Affect Our Health and Well-being

It is surprising how little thought people give to pillows. I mean, these fluffy loyal companions embrace us after a long day and let your drift away to the dreamland. Not only that— having the right pillow under the head can make a big difference in your life. Namely, pillows can hurt or help you, depending on their quality, shape, and size, as well as how you sleep (position). They are as important as mattresses and affect everything from the quality of sleep and our mood to health, and well-being.

Sleep and essential body functions

A good pillow can be the key to the good night’s sleep and there are many health benefits that stem from that. Anything that makes you feel comfortable is beneficial in this regard because it makes your body and mind relax better. Contrariwise, being uncomfortable make you lose sleep and that creates a wealth of potential issues down the road. Namely, basic bodily functions such as tissue repair and muscle growth and hampered. To make it worse, sleep deprivation is linked to poor mood, fatigue, decreased cognitive ability, and heightened stress and anxiety.

Scope of choice

There is a simple test you can conduct to figure out if your pillow has reached the end of its lifespan. Bend your pillow in half and see if it straightens back into shape. If it does not, you need to replace it. The good news is that there are many pillow brands that promise to solve all your sleep disorders, snoring, and health problems. The bad news is that not all of them are able to deliver these results. So, what should you do when considering a new pillow? Well, it is always a safe bet to opt for trusted brands like Coze Linen and stick to high-quality products that ensure maximum comfort.

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It should fit like a glove

Furthermore, pillows that are too firm or soft tend to cause problems such as neck pain. They occur when your head is bent in any way for a longer period of time. Stiffness, for example, is one of the most common symptoms that are associated either with bad posture or non-optimal pillow. The size of it is supposed to be just right to provide an ideal angle of comfort and support the curvature of neck and head in every sleep position. In case the pillow is too high or too low, it can lead to muscle tension. The result is that annoying stiff neck and shoulder pain in the morning.

Sleeping posture

It is crucial to note that seep position plays a vital role. For instance, if you sleep on your stomach and use a pillow that is too firm, you hyperextend your neck and head forward. On the other hand, sleeping on the side and having an overly soft pillow does not give support for the neck. In general, side sleepers are better off using thick pillows, while back sleepers need to choose softer ones. It is never a good thing if you are constantly readjusting your pillow trying. Medical experts state that correcting the head or upper body position by just 30 degrees can have a great positive impact on health.

Final considerations

People with conditions such as sleep apnea have even more reasons to pay close attention to pillows they use. That is because shabby pillows impede continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment with the bedside mask device. Moreover, subpar pillows can even cause suffocation with babies, also known as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Finally, with an unsuitable pillow, you increase the risk of suffering heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Then again, do not expect miracles from pillows on their own. They cannot replace the value of getting proper diagnosis and treatment from a physician.

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Sweet dreams

Pillows are the wardens of health and well-being. Alas, they can also turn into your worst enemy.  To prevent this nightmarish scenario, assess the level of comfort they offer and mind the proper posture. Avoid bending the neck and head in an awkward way.  If you notice any of the aforementioned problems, you need to take a better look at your sleeping body. After all, pillows have an expiry date. They should not feel too lumpy, let alone falling apart at the seams.  So, you might want to invest in a better-quality product and preserve your long-term health that way.