Why Pillows Are More Than Trendy Sleep Accessories

It may be troubling why you always feel tired every morning despite feeling that you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep. Perhaps your body is always achy and sore whenever you wake up too. Fortunately, these symptoms don’t point to any health concerns, but it may be a sign that you need to replace your sleep accessories, particularly your pillows. Indeed, in addition to having a good-quality mattress, sleeping on the right pillow can spell the difference between a good night’s sleep and a fitful one.

But before elaborating on why pillows are more than just an ordinary sleeping accessory, it’s crucial that you first know the importance of a good night’s rest.

Benefits of having good-quality sleep

Health experts advise everyone to sleep for 8 hours every day, which is around 2,980 hours annually. With these numbers, sleeping constitutes around a third of your life. This amount of time isn’t for anything, though. This is because good-quality sleep won’t only help you feel energized in the morning, but it can also contribute to the following:

Boost brain function: Every time you sleep, your brain will have the much-needed preparation to face the challenges the next day. For one, during sleep, your brain will form new pathways to help you remember and learn things easily. This is important if you want to learn a new language or a new game, drive your car, and improve your problem-solving skills. These pathways are also important when it comes to enhancing your decision-making abilities, creativity, and focus.
Getting an inadequate amount of sleep may impact your heart: Did you know that good sleep is also important for your heart health? Without proper sleep, your organs won’t have enough time to regulate themselves. That’s why research shows that poor-quality sleep, cardiovascular plaque buildup, and increased cholesterol levels and high blood pressure are linked.
Has an impact on your weight: Have you tried all the trends concerning weight loss and performed rigorously in the gym yet haven’t achieved your desired weight? If so, the culprit may be inadequate sleep. For one, you’ll feel less hungry if you’re fully rested. On the contrary, if you’re sleep-deprived, you’ll feel less energetic.

To cope with the sluggish feeling, you may eat more than necessary, and eating more translates to weight gain. Additionally, lack of sleep may also result in hormonal imbalance, particularly affecting the hormones that control your hunger. (1)

Importance of pillows

Now that you know you spend one-third of your life sleeping, this fact also means you spend a third of your life with your head on a pillow. Now more than ever that you must know the benefits you can gain if you have a proper sleep and understand how the right pillow can affect your sleep quality.

Keep in mnid that an ordinary pillow won’t only be a waste of money for you, but it may also lead to bad sleep. Hence, experts advise investing in great American made sleeping pillows or from any other leading quality brands. Besides, investing in the right pillow will drastically improve your sleep quality by at least 30%, allowing you to harness the benefits of having a good night’s rest.

In addition to being a key factor in your sleep quality, here are more reasons why pillows are more than a trendy sleep accessory:

Provide support to your spine

Perhaps one main reason having the right pillow is recommended is because it’ll promote proper spine health. This is especially important if you have any spinal problems or disorders. Other than applying healthy sleeping habits, always make sure that you have a pillow that can support your neck, back, and spine. Failure to do so may only worsen any pain you’re feeling.

Now, choosing the right pillow that can provide support to your spine can be a little tricky, especially since people have different sleeping positions. Fortunately, companies have made it easier by labeling the pillow in relation to the most suitable sleeping position.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the different sleeping positions and the type of pillow that can offer the best support:

Side sleeper: If you’re a side sleeper and have some back, neck, and spine problems, go for a pillow that’s thick. Ideally, you want a pillow that can support your neck and head while giving your body proper alignment.
Stomach sleeper: If you sleep on your stomach, it’s also best to talk to a medical professional about how you can minimize or completely stop sleeping on your stomach. This is because this sleeping position is more susceptible to neck pain and spinal problems. But if you find it difficult to sleep in a different position, try opting for a flat or low-profile pillow. You can also place a flat pillow under your stomach to alleviate any pressure.
Back sleeper: Lastly, if you sleep on your back, you can choose a high and low profile, depending on your preference. The important thing is that you look for a pillow that can provide support to your shoulders, head, and neck. Additionally, you might want to have a second pillow to be placed under your knees, allowing you to keep pressure off your back. (2)(3)

With all the talk about thick, flat, and high- and low-profile pillows, you may find yourself too confused already. Fortunately, this video will showcase the toughness and softness of every popular type of pillow, allowing you to make an informed decision:

The wrong pillow may worsen existing conditions

Other than a major contributor to your neck and spine’s health, did you know that the wrong pillow may worsen existing conditions? For instance, as explained above, if you have existing neck pain, sleeping on the improper pillow may accentuate it. If you have a headache, a lousy pillow will only exacerbate it. Also, if you have any discomfort while you’re sleeping—feeling too hot or too cold, snoring, coughing, and generally tossing and turning—the wrong pillow will only make it happen more often.

Furthermore, bad pillows will worsen any discomfort you’re already experiencing, but it can also trigger any allergies you have. This is because pillows will collect microscopic things, including dust mites, skin cells, fungus, mold, etc., all of which can cause any allergies. (4)

As a solution, it’s best to resort to pillows with organic fillings, like buckwheat hulls. Since a buckwheat hulls pillow is organic, you can rest assured that there are no chemicals present, which prevents any allergies from acting up. Additionally, you can customize the number of buckwheat hulls in your pillowcase, giving you the freedom to adjust the firmness of the pillow and giving you comfort all throughout the night.

It gives you the right temperature

A report states that the ideal temperature is around 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit. For your room to achieve this temperature, it’s not enough to solely rely on your AC, especially since it can be costly. Fortunately, there are now many cooling sleep accessories available in the market nowadays, like cooling mattresses and blankets. But the best budget-friendly option, especially if you constantly experience night sweats, is a cooling pillow. (5)

A cool bedroom paired with a cooling pillow will automatically lower the temperature around your neck, head, and shoulders. This way, you won’t only fall asleep faster, but you’ll also experience a night of deep and restful sleep as you’ll no longer experience restlessness due to sweating.

A cooling pillow is classified into three categories: breathable, pillows with a phase-changing cover, and gel memory foam pillows. But essentially, if a pillow is considered cooling, it means that it can easily wick away any moisture, increase airflow, and dissipate heat. All these properties allow you to experience the ideal room temperature.

Dirty pillows cause acne

Your skincare routine will be in vain if you neglect your pillowcase. Even if you have a strict regimen to take care of your face, once you sleep with the same pillow, the buildup of dirt and oil may come in contact with your skin, allowing these acne-causing agents to return to your skin. With that said, if you want to achieve clear skin, consider changing your pillowcases frequently.

Here are some acne-relieving tips that are related to your pillows:

Put your pillowcases in the laundry every three days if possible
Use any type of fragrant-free detergent when washing your pillowcases. A fabric softener may leave some waxy residue that can get onto your skin and clog your pores, resulting in acne. So, it’s best to refrain from using a fabric softener when washing your pillows.
If you have bad acne, consider changing your pillowcases every day. (6)

Tips on choosing the right pillow

Now that you know the importance of the right pillow, the next thing you should keep in mind is to know how to choose the right one for you. To help you out, here are some tips when choosing a pillow that’ll suit your needs and preferences:

Consider the filler

As already hinted above, what your pillow is made of or the filling will make a big difference in your experience, especially if you’re sensitive to certain chemicals or materials. For instance, if you don’t like the feel of feathers, some of which are hypoallergenic, consider other alternatives. In this case, you can opt for a polyurethane or polyester fiber pillow, both of which won’t irritate sensitive sleepers. Another option you can choose is buckwheat hull and memory foam.

To get a feel of every filling, head to the nearest store. Make sure to take note of how soft, lumpy, firm, or solid the filling feels.

Size

Most people are already fine with a standard-sized pillow. But if you prefer a much larger pillow, that’s fine as long as your spine is aligned while you’re sleeping. Also, when going for a larger pillow, ensure that the pillowcase and pillow cover will fit properly. Stuffing a big pillow into an undersized cover or using an extra-large pillowcase on a standard-size pillow isn’t only aesthetically unappealing, but it can also lead to discomfort.

Shape

In order to fully support your head and neck, there are some pillows that are made in special shapes. For instance, cervical and contour pillows are made to remedy any back and neck pain, while contoured body pillows are designed to relieve any pressure points on your body.

When to replace your pillows

Experts recommend replacing your pillow every one year and six months or so. This is because your pillows will accumulate mold, dust mites, and dead skin cells over time. But a good quality pillow may last longer. (7)

To make sure that your pillows will last longer, invest in some pillow protectors. You can also perform a pillow test to know if it’s time to change your pillows. You can do so by folding it in half. If it springs back to flat, then it’s still in good condition. If not, replace your pillows as they may no longer have the fluff needed to support your head, neck, and shoulders. (7)

Takeaway

As you can see, pillows are more than just a trendy sleeping accessory. Not only can they be a major factor in your sleep quality, but it can also impact your spine health. Also, continually using the wrong pillow can only worsen any sleeping discomfort you’re already struggling with. Not to mention that a worn-out pillow may contribute to your acne, affecting any skincare routine you’re following.

So the next time you shop for a new furniture set for your bedroom, assess the status of your pillow too. Make sure that you only go for quality ones, as pillows should be considered as an investment. If you’re wondering whether it’s time to replace your pillows, do the pillow test. If it doesn’t spring back to flat, then visit your nearest pillow store so you can harness the benefits of what a good pillow can bring.