Are you having trouble sleeping at night? Do you wake up with a stiff neck or a headache? Do you find yourself turning, switching sides, and constantly changing positions just to get comfortable? Well one aspect to look at is the current pillow that you are sleeping with. Here are some factors to consider when deciding if the pillow that you are using is right for you:
- Your pillow is not the right size for you. If you are a petite person, then you should not be using a king size pillow. Believe me, this happens more than you think. The pillow you sleep with can be different than the pillow that looks great on your bed spread. Choosing the right size of pillow is important because you may be pushing your head too forward if its not the right size. Vice versa, if the pillow is not big enough for you, then you will also not be comfortable and not get the proper support that you need to during sleep. Consider your height and your weight when deciding what pillow is right for you. Also, look to see how your head lies while sleeping on the pillow. If the pillow is too big for you, your head will be flexed forward causing a stiff neck the next morning.
- Your pillow is too flat. This happens overtime with a lot of pillows. Knowing when to replace a pillow is very important. A flat pillow is not going give you the support that you need in your cervical spine. Imagine taking a towel roll and putting it under your neck when you are sleeping. This allows you to have the proper cervical curve when you are sleeping: on your side or on your back. Dr. Bellinger shows you how to use a towel roll for a neck pillow in the video below.
At the Neck Pain Relief Shop, we have pillows that have an effective neck roll for sleeping: these pillows are called the Arc4life Linear Gravity Neck Pillows. They each have two neck rolls on them, one firmer, one softer. You can choose which neck roll is most comfortable for you. - The neck pillow you are using is too soft or too firm. This is once complaint I hear too many times. When you get a pillow, there should be some "Give" to the pillow. Really its personal preference. Some people like a lot of give, some people like a pillow to be very firm. However, it should not be rock hard solid that it is uncomfortable,and you won't be have to have a restful sleep. Be careful of feather pillows too. If you do like a firmer neck pillow, consider the tri core family of neck pillows. They come in all sizes, and the density of the pillow makes it a firmer neck pillow.
- The neck pillow does not allow you to change positions while sleeping. You might be only a side sleeper or only a back sleeper. Because of a specific health condition you might be a certain type of sleeper as well. Your neck pillow should accomodate this. Believe it or not there are particular pillows made just for side sleepers. Here is an example: SideRight Side Sleep pillow. It actually has a cut out for your where your head should lie. Other pillows like the linear gravity pillow allow for side and back sleeping
- Your pillow is causing you to sweat too much during sleep. You may have to change the type of pillow you are sleeping on. Maybe the foam pillow you are using is making the back of your neck too hot. Choose a pillow that stays cool while you sleep. An example of this is the Bioposture Memory foam neck pillow
As you can see, even when it comes to neck pillows there are lots of choices out there. Getting the right neck pillow can make for better sleep, and better posture.
Additional Reading Resources:
- The Cervical Traction Neck Pillow is Fantastic. I want to get one for my Son, but is it too big?
- I wake up with stiff and sore shoulders everyday
- How to reduce the chances of getting a stiff neck
- Neck Pillows
- Herniated Disc in the NECK