Thursday, September 05, 2019

By Barbara Pronin With the dizzying array available today, few shopping trips are fraught with more anxiety than hunting for the perfect mattress. But not far behind that, and of equal importance, is the search for the perfect pillow.

Sleep experts say that’s because no matter the type of mattress you have, a good, rejuvenating night’s sleep is often right under your head (or your ear, if you’re a side sleeper). While the wrong pillow can worsen headaches, neck and shoulder pain, snuggling up with a pillow that corresponds to the way you sleep can dramatically improve your sleep quality. 

Since most people change positions often during the night, determine your body’s preferred position by narrowing down what position you are most often in when you wake up. 

- If you’re a side sleeper, choose a firmer, possibly thicker pillow to fill in the gap between your ear and your shoulder.

- If you sleep on your back, you need a thinner pillow to cradle your neck without throwing your head too far forward.

- If you’re a stomach sleeper, look for a thin, nearly flat pillow. You may not even need a pillow, although you might consider tucking one under your stomach to avoid lower back pain.
There’s a big difference in pillow fillings:

Foam - The higher the density, the less breakdown and the firmer support you will have. 

Memory Foam - It can reduce pressure points by molding and adjusting as you move, and it comes in various shapes, including an S-shape, meant to support the neck. But memory foam material sometimes makes sleepers hot, and may emit a chemical odor. 

Latex - The firmest type of pillow. It resists mold and dust mites and may help with back and neck alignment.

Down/Feather - Many sleep experts recommend these as one of the best pillows for a good night's rest because you can move the stuffing around so that you have the most support where you need it. A 50-50 combination of feather and down works well because the feathers act like springs to add support.

 Specialty Pillows - These pricier types include “cool pillows,” said to absorb and whisk away head heat, and “anti-snore pillows.” While they may be worth trying, there's not enough research to support their claims.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com