Does Your Pillow Choice Impact Your Sleep?

Getting a good night’s sleep is incredibly important for your health and wellbeing. Sleeping allows our body to reset and regenerate itself to be ready for the next day so comfort while sleeping is key. Many people only focus on the mattress, but the pillows you rest your head on while you sleep are just as important. Your pillow is meant to help support your skull, neck and spin while you sleep.

Many people can have interrupted sleep due to using the wrong type of pillow. If you are sleeping on a pillow that is not the right one for you, it will not only negatively affect your quality of sleep, but it can also cause harm and damage to your body by impacting your spinal structure and organ health. 

3 Things To Consider When Choosing Your Pillow

1 Density

Like anything in life, we all have our personal preferences on things and the type of pillow you sleep on is no exception. When looking for a new pillow you will need to take the density (firmness) of the pillow into consideration. Some people like very firm pillows, while others may like very soft pillows or something in between. Your pillow choice may also be largely influenced by your sleeping style and preferred sleeping position as the different sleeping positions each require different types of support.

2 Your current mattress

The mattress and pillow work together to create a comfortable, supportive place for you to rest and sleep. If you have a soft mattress a thinner pillow will be more comfortable as you naturally sink into the mattress therefore there is less space between your pillow and head. On the other hand, if you have a firm mattress then a fuller pillow is better for you as it will prop you up more a create a bigger gap between you and your pillow.

3 Breathability

South African weather can be extremely temperamental, and hot humid nights are not ideal for a getting a good night’s sleep. If temperature control is a large factor that you are taking into consideration, then choosing a pillow that is made of lighter filling will be the best choice for you. Pillows that have a lighter filling such as polyester and shredded foam, allow more air to pass through them compared to fuller pillows made from feather and down, which will trap the heat and in turn make you feel even warmer.