For most of us that get between 6-8 hours of sleep a night, this means that we are spending up to a third of our day lying in bed. By the time we reach 60, we would have spent up to 20 years of our lives on a pillow and mattress.
With this in mind, your choice of pillow and mattress are pretty important. How your neck and head is stabilized by the pillow that you sleep on will impact how your muscles and body are positioned whether you are one of those people who lie on your back or on your side.
On the flip side, using the wrong pillow can cause you to have restless sleep, neck and back pain, jaw problems and headaches.
We should also point out here that lying on your tummy is not recommended, as it means your head is in rotation for long periods of time.
Trying to find the right pillow which is adequately supportive can be tricky. The right pillow can be different for everyone, since we all have very different body shapes and postures.
Despite the fact that finding a suitable pillow is not a “one size fits all” scenario, there are some things we should all think about when considering a pillow.
Pillows made from hypoallergenic material can contribute to a better night’s sleep. One that has a contour can also be of benefit in supporting the natural curvature of your neck when lying on your back and side. The materials used to make the pillow can also affect how much support it will offer, for example a feather one in comparison to a memory foam pillow will lose its shape more readily.
Pillows, much like most household items, need to be changed regularly. They do wear out and can trap dirt and dust over time. We’d recommend replacing your pillow every 2-3 years.
Don’t forget, if you are waking up with a sore neck or headaches, maybe it’s time to have a chat with a health professional about your bed habits.