Around one-third of the American population is sleep deprived. If you're one of them, then chances are you're already familiar with products promising to deliver a better night's sleep. But did you know that pillows are also in the running? Ergonomic pillows, to be exact. These cushions carry a lot of promises, which is why we're diving deep into the trend. Is it time to do away with those feather pillows? Read on to find out.
What is an Ergonomic Pillow?
An ergonomic pillow is a pillow designed to alleviate your sleeping and posture problems by complementing your natural sleeping position. Essentially, the pillow will cradle the contours your body creates by lying down. This helps it maintain the necessary position and alignment of your neck or your spine to alleviate any discomfort that may produce.
It also helps cut down any possible tension that your body suffers from by lying in one position for an extended period of time and helps support the neck so that no matter what position you choose to lie on, you don't put unnecessary tension on one of the most important parts of your body.
This way, you get maximum comfort as you lie down which naturally leads to better sleep.
The Best Ergonomic Pillows for Neck Pain
Taking care of your head and neck is important for a good night's sleep. Using the right ergonomic pillow may just be the answer you need. We rounded up ten of the best ergonomic pillows on the market to help you choose the right one for your needs.
Benefits of Using Ergonomic Pillows
Ergonomic pillows are designed to give you comfort while you sleep, and make sure you don't overload your neck and spine while dozing off. Still, there's even more an ergonomic pillow can do. Check out the list of benefits below.
Improves Neck Pain
Studies suggest that ergonomic pillows can help significantly decrease neck pain related to general wear and tear affecting the spinal disks in your neck after just four weeks of use. So, if you're suffering from neck pain, think about upgrading your pillow. Remember, the less support your pillow provides, the more tension you'll put on your neck.
No More Headaches
While many ergonomic pillows target neck pain specifically, there are also pillows ergonomically designed to target headaches. Remember, putting unnecessary tension on your neck puts you at greater risk of developing a headache. The lack of sleep can also trigger migraines, meaning ergonomic pillows can help remedy more than just a poor night's sleep.
Decreased Muscle Cramps
Poor blood flow to your muscles can cause cramps. Bad posture can trigger this, even when you're sleeping. Fortunately, ergonomic pillows come with the added benefit of ensuring proper blood circulation.
Better Sleep
You're free of neck pain, you're done with headaches, and you've successfully evaded muscle cramps. What's next? A good night's sleep, that's what. Several studies have suggested that using ergonomic pillows is generally better for sleep than using conventional pillows. After all, they're designed with your comfort in mind, aligning your body in the ways it was intended.
Improved Good Posture
The best thing about ergonomic pillows is they're made to make sure your body aligns itself the way it should. This means your head, neck, shoulder, and back are coaxed back into their proper positions. The curvature or contour of the pillow will also ensure your head is cradled such that your spine can rest while the pillow supports the neck.
Sleep Apnea Who?
Sleep apnea is a condition where you repeatedly stop breathing during sleep, causing loud snoring and daytime tiredness. It's a serious disorder that can also lead to other health problems. Fortunately, there are some ergonomic pillows designed specifically for sleep apnea to alleviate some symptoms.
They usually slope down to incline the neck and open up their airways. There are also other ergonomic pillows designed to pair perfectly with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine which is a device normally used to treat sleep apnea patients. Using ergonomic pillows in tandem with your CPAP will ensure maximum comfort throughout the night.
What are the Different Kinds of Ergonomic Pillows?
Ergonomic pillows are designed for individual comfort, so it follows that there are many different kinds to fit different needs. Listed below are four of the most popular:
Contour Pillow
Contour pillows are shaped with contours that support the neck. Usually, they dip down in the middle to cradle your head and keep the neck parallel to the mattress. This shape is what helps it align the spine and the neck so that you can avoid neck pain and associated problems down the line. The idea is to keep your body as tension-free as possible so you can relax without overloading your spine and other bones.
Slim Pillows
These are shaped conventionally but made thinner in order to support stomach sleepers. They're also great for people with much smaller frames. While sleeping on your stomach isn't really recommended, you may be able to avoid some of the associated problems by keeping your body level.
CPAP Pillows
Just as the name suggests, these pillows are designed specifically for people who sleep while using a CPAP machine. Whether you're a back, side, or stomach sleeper, there's a pillow out there to help you stay comfortable throughout the night. CPAP pillows have cutaways to accommodate the CPAP mask, and also help maintain the optimal neck posture to reduce the effects of sleep apnea.
Wedge Pillows
Ergonomic Pillow vs. Memory Foam Pillow vs. Feather Pillow
Memory foam is usually made with polyurethane and is incredibly durable. It's high density so it provides good support while relieving tension built up in the body. It's also known to mold to the shape of your body, which means it will remember which parts need to dip and which parts don't.
Memory foam pillows with a distinct curve or contours fall under the umbrella of ergonomic pillows. The only downside is that memory foam also tends to retain body heat, so things can get a little uncomfortable throughout the night, particularly for people who run warm.
One study found that ergonomic pillows may help alleviate chronic neck pain as well as improve overall sleep quality. The researchers also found that ergonomic pillows seem to be more satisfying to people when compared to memory foam pillows or ordinary pillows.
Meanwhile, feather pillows tend to be super fluffy, which actually isn't great for sleeping. While they are able to conform to the shape of the neck, they don't provide the same kind of support as latex or memory foam.
That said, they are inexpensive and widely accessible, which is why they are still so popular. Still, users should know that if they're experiencing neck pain, headaches, or back pain, it could be because of the feather pillow.
Conclusion
Remember, it's important to think about how you sleep when selecting the right pillow for you. There are tons of ergonomic pillows available on the market to suit your specific needs. They'll correct your posture, and help you fall asleep. They've also been proven to help prevent neck and back pain.
That said, you may still have trouble sleeping. Stress, anxiety, and other issues unrelated to pillows or posture often keep us up at night. Unfortunately, no amount of memory foam can help correct that.
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