You’ll probably agree that choosing the right pillow has an undeniable impact on the quality of your sleep and also plays a major role in whether you wake up without headaches and neck pain. Choosing one is therefore just as important as choosing a good quality mattress. What should I choose a pillow on and what are the consequences of choosing the wrong pillow?
Do you have a headache or cervical spine pain when you wake up? A poorly chosen pillow could be to blame. Cervical spine pain is the second most commonly reported back pain, after lumbar pain, according to a survey. Unfortunately, the incorrect position of the cervical spine when sleeping also contributes to other health problems, given that the neck is where all the blood supply to the brain passes. Poor regeneration of the cervical spine vertebrae thus goes hand in hand with headaches and aggravation of migraines. According to experts, improper pillow selection can also affect spinal blockages and insomnia, which can lead to irritability or even depression.
The role of the correct pillow is to anatomically support the cervical spine correctly when lying on the back and to keep the cervical spine straight in line with the body axis when lying on the side. In other words, the right pillow should always perfectly fill the space between the shoulders and the head and maintain a natural angle between the face and shoulders.
If you struggle with cervical spine pain or want to prevent it, an anatomical pillow designed to provide proper support for your head and cervical spine is the right choice for you. Anatomical pillows are made of memory foam. The advantage of this material is that it is sensitive to temperature and pressure. As soon as you lie down on the pillow, it softens and moulds to your head and neck so that the neck and shoulder muscles are perfectly relaxed.
Since anatomical pillows are made in different sizes and shapes, they are really suitable for anyone who wants to get a good night’s sleep and do something for their health. The shape of the pillow should be based on the position you most often sleep in. Some of them are designed for sleeping on your side and back, others for sleeping on your stomach or just on your back. Of course, there is also an anatomical pillow with a universal shape that is suitable for all positions.
The shape of the anatomical pillow should also be chosen according to the length of the neck. If you are still unsure about which shape to choose, experts in specialist stores will be happy to advise you.
Want to make sure you buy a pillow that really suits you? Then don’t buy it online and don’t just choose one based on reviews, because something different suits everyone. Ideally, choose a pillow from a manufacturer that allows you to try it out in store before you buy it. A list of Materasso retailers can be found here.
One survey showed that half of Czechs don’t care at all about their choice of pillow. Some people sleep without a pillow at all and some have several pillows under their heads. However, both options are wrong, according to physiotherapists. Sleeping without a pillow, they say, is only suitable for those who sleep on their backs all night, but realistically this is a very small group of people as most of us roll over onto our sides at night. Sleeping on fluffy, high pillows is frowned upon by doctors altogether.
Experts say you should also avoid putting a pillow under your back, it should always start above your shoulders, forming a support for your cervical spine. You should also avoid twisting and folding the pillow, as quality pillows are designed to perform their function and do not need to be adjusted.
Last but not least, avoid putting your arm under your neck when lying on your side. Why? You’ll put pressure on the carotid artery, which is supposed to oxygenate the brain.
Did you buy an anatomical pillow but it started to give you back or neck pain? Don’t worry, it’s quite common. This may be due to the wrong shape of the pillow or its height.
These problems often also occur after you have been used to sleeping on a classic soft pillow for a long time and your muscles have become accustomed to this position. However, an anatomical pillow forces the body into the correct position and it is this transition that can cause spinal or back pain, but the pain will subside within a week to 14 days.
The above information proves that you should definitely not underestimate the choice of pillow, especially if you suffer from whiplash or headaches. When choosing the right pillow, just follow a few expert recommendations. You’ll soon find that you’ll find yourself sleeping better than ever on the right pillow, preferably an anatomical one.
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