What is the best pillow and how to choose it

 What is the best pillow and how to choose it

It is not only about sleeping well, but also about taking care of the spine. Add to rest a plus of comfort and health by choosing the ideal one for you.

The best way to face the day is to have a good rest. There is no good health without a restful night and, for this, creating the best conditions for sleep is key. Choose a good mattress first, and then figure out which is the best pillow for your spine, your neck, and your sleeping habits. Surprise yourself with the enormous variety of options that exist today in the market and find the ideal one for you.

- What is the best pillow and how to choose it and Pillows Product

The first thing to know is that the type of pillow that works well for everyone is something very personal. Some prefer harder alternatives and others super soft, and there are those who like them tall and those who are looking for the finest on the market. There are also therapeutic options, manufactured to help with lower back or cervical problems, and options for different times of the day (to read or watch television, for example) or for a particular stage, such as pregnancy.

What is the best pillow

One of the most common questions that orthopedists receive is whether neck or back pain may be due to an inappropriate pillow. And the answer, in general, is that "yes, it can be": we spend an average of 8 hours resting on it and it must be a great ally of restful sleep. It can prevent or alleviate some neck and back pain and is worth investing in.

How to choose a pillow

As we begin to find out which one is the best, we will discover that there are different models and designs to choose from.

The first thing we should know is that the objective of this popular object is to keep the spine straight, filling in the curvature of the neck and thus allowing it to relax. The main thing is that it makes you feel comfortable. No matter what advice they give you: the ideal is the one that is comfortable for you.

Some advices:

• First, the arm should keep the spine in a natural alignment, as when we are standing.
• The pillow should adjust to various sleeping positions and should continue to relieve pressure points regardless of how you lie down. Texture is key here.
• If the height is too high, when sleeping on the side or stomach will increase the muscle tension in the back of the neck and shoulders. In addition, it can obstruct breathing, causing snoring.
• If it is very low, muscle tension may appear in the neck.
• Based on the measurements of our body, it should maintain a height of 10-15 cm, so that it adequately supports the head and neck.

Types of pillows

There are different models, which have different shapes or have designs with specific objectives.

• Traditional : it is the most common, long and narrow. It is recommended for any posture.
• Butterfly: narrow in the central area and widens at the edges. It is indicated for people with ailments of the cervical and dorsal area.
• Cervical: they  are indicated for people with ailments of the cervical and dorsal area. It is an ergonomic option that has two convex areas and one concave area, to adapt to the neck and head. In many cases of neck pain, the use of a memory foam cervical pillow can help us gain the necessary support.

•  Memory foam: they are made with memory foam and achieve an anatomical shape with use that provides relief from pressure points on the back. If you've never heard of the subject and are wondering what memory foam is, just know that it is a material created by NASA to mitigate the pressures on the bodies of astronauts at takeoff. It is a soft foam, capable of absorbing impacts. One of its best properties is the ability to distribute weight. Pressure is thus avoided ensuring ideal support for the whole body. In the case of the viscoelastic cervical, it is ensured that the head and neck are perfectly aligned with the spine.
•  Anatomical : they are therapeutic, which in general are designed to improve a particular physical situation. It is also known as  ergonomic it conforms to body shapes and cannot be rigid at all.
•  Smart: if you wonder what a smart pillow is, do n't imagine something very technological, but something innovative in the field. They promise to considerably improve the quality of sleep through the measurement of different parameters associated with rest. It fulfills the same function as a traditional one, but incorporates a piece that allows managing characteristics related to the particular way of sleeping of each user. It does so based on sensors designed to read movements and identify the phase of sleep that is being experienced. In addition, they are capable of recreating favorable conditions associated with rest and emit low-frequency waves (through small speakers), which enhance those produced by the brain when sleeping soundly. It is also known asmemory pillow.
•  Lumbar : it is used more for sitting than lying down. People who spend many hours in a chair know that their back and lower back end up suffering sooner or later. Staying in the same position for so long, with the muscles inactive, is something harmful to the entire structure of our body, an evil that we can mitigate with the use of lumbar models. What they do is help the pressures of the body's weight to be distributed in different areas instead of accumulating in certain points, causing then sources of pain that can also radiate to other parts.

 

Materials

Some are too soft and cannot support the weight of the shoulders and head. Others, however, are so firm that the neck and head are forced into uncomfortable and not beneficial postures. The ideal option should be soft and comfortable, but with just the right point of firmness, something that has a lot to do with the materials with which it is made.

In general, most are made of these materials: latex, feather, cotton or memory foam.

• Those made of synthetic fibers or feathers are flexible, so they are recommended for those who sleep on their stomachs.
• For people who move a lot at bedtime, latex and memory foam are recommended, since they have a memory system, and adapt to the person who uses them.
• For those who have cervical or lumbar problems, it is good to consult for options with "smart" materials, which adapt to the position and the body to offer points of relief and rest.
• Many are made with anti-mite, fungal, and bacterial materials.
• Pillow filling : if you are allergic, it is important to check that the material with which it is made does not affect your health. Today there are different fillings that you can try.

The ideal option depending on how you sleep

Another fact that must be taken into account when buying is the position in which you sleep:

• Face up: it  should be of intermediate thickness and firmness, which allow the natural curve of the neck. This means that if someone were to look at us from the side of the bed, our head should follow the horizontal with the mattress. If it is too high or low we will get up with pain and stiff neck.
• From the side : you must allow the head to be aligned with the rest of the back. If you are looking at us from the side, the two ears should be at the same distance from the shoulders. For this, it must be thick and firm so that the head is not tilted.
• Face down : it is not a recommended position, and if you can avoid it it would be better for your back, but we will talk about that. However, if this is the only way you are able to fall asleep, a soft and narrow one will be the most appropriate to allow the head to turn in a natural way.
• All positions: if you are one of those who move a lot, the appropriate thing will be one of medium firmness to be able to adapt it to the different positions you adopt.

How to care for pillows

Hygiene is essential in health care, since it is the place where we breathe many hours. To make it last and stay healthy, follow these tips:

• It is advisable to choose a breathable cover.
• If you are allergic, change the cover at least once a week.
• Over time they can lose firmness, so it is recommended to change them approximately every 5 years.
• If you sleep as a couple, we recommend that each have their own, adapted to their personal needs.

The best option for every stage of life

Throughout the years the body changes and we have different needs when it comes to going to bed and getting a good rest.

Pillows for pregnant women

They are specially designed for pregnant women, which promote good weight distribution and optimize good circulation during rest. They relieve back pain and are used for a long time, because they can also be used for breastfeeding.

For babies

They are advisable only after the year, not before. It is because children have a much larger head in proportion and have no problem sleeping on their side or on their back without it. You can have an ornament for the crib but it is not used. Yes, you can find some designed for the day, so that you are in a comfortable and safe position while playing or taking a nap.

For children

From the year on, some children may already start to need it, because the shoulders are already wider than their heads and, consequently, the heads begin to hang when sleeping on their side. It should be low and smooth.

It is also good to have some cushions for children, for reading or playing time. In addition, they are great as accessories in the decoration of children's rooms .

For travel

Finally, it is always good to have a travel pillow. Today there are many options that you can add to your travel accessories and avoid the pain of many hours in a car, bus or plane.