Do you often wake up with a stiff sore neck? Or, after a nights sleep do you suffer from back or shoulder pain?
Surprisingly, many people who have dealt with these health problems for years put an end to them simply by changing their pillow.
In addition to neck, back and shoulder pain, the wrong pillow can also give you problems with fatigue and allergies.
Lets take a look at these in more detail and examine how you can quickly get relief by changing to another pillow.
Neck Pain
If you wake with a stiff neck many times throughout the week there's a good chance you need a specialty pillow.
Many people suffer neck pain after sleeping because their pillow isn't doing a good job of supporting their neck. Their head is lifted by the pillow but their neck is left sagging, which puts their spine out of alignment.
To combat this problem, consider buying a foam contour pillow -- particularly one made from memory foam. This type of pillow will work whether you sleep on your back, side or stomach because it will support your neck as well as you head and thus alleviate any pain caused by poor neck support.
Shoulder And Back Pain
If your spine isn't aligned naturally during sleep, you could suffer shoulder and back pain on waking.
To prevent this you need to rest in a position that is natural to the alignment of your spine. If your pillow is too high or too low this will simply be impossible. The answer is to buy a pillow that keeps your head in alignment with your spine.
If you sleep on a very thick mattress, you will reap the best results by sleeping on a thick pillow. And on the other hand, if your mattress is thin, a thin pillow will help you to stay free of pain.
This may sound simple, but it is quite effective.
Allergies
When you have allergies it is important to be very selective when looking for the right pillow.
Cotton pillows tend to collect dust mites rapidly - a big no-no for those with allergies.
Instead, look for a synthetic fiber pillow - one that mocks the feel of a goose down or feather pillow, but doesn't include the allergens.
Fatigue
Fatigue can be caused simply by not being comfortable enough during sleep. Pillows can contribute greatly to this!
When you lie down at night, do you sink into just the right comfort zone? Or do you struggle to "push" your pillow into place all night long?
If you are constantly struggling to get comfortable, you should consider changing your pillow and noting the effect this has on you. Here are a few hints that will help you select the right pillow for you:
If you sleep on your back, you will probably do better with a thin pillow. If you were to use a thick one, your neck and shoulders would not be supported which would not only cause you to be uncomfortable but could also lead to neck and shoulder pain. A thin cotton pillow or a contoured foam one will be the ideal choice.
However, if you are a side-sleeper you will want a thicker pillow to support your neck and a down or feather pillow will be a perfect for this.
If you sleep on your stomach, you may well decide that you don't want a pillow at all. It is very difficult to sleep on your stomach and achieve natural neck and spine alignment -- something that's vital to a good night's sleep. If you simply cannot sleep without one, try using a flat pillow for the best chance of restful sleep.
If you find yourself living with any of the above-mentioned health issues just try a simple change of pillow. You might find it's all you need!
