
How to choose the best pillow for side sleepers?
Most of us live in an extremely hectic world and don’t think that sleep is important. And there’s data that shows that over eight out of 10 people have no idea how they sleep. However, picking a pillow that isn’t sensitive to how you sleep is unwise, since the height, type of fabric and material of the pillow can make a big difference to how we sleep.
In this blog series on sleep positions and pillows, Eileensia will show you how to make an accurate and quick decision on which pillow is best for your sleeping style. Our first post will be about how to treat our side sleeper friends (about 60% of adults in this world).
Are you a side sleeper?
Side sleeper – A side sleeper is someone who sleeps on their left or right side rather than on their back or front. It can also have several health benefits including:
Alleviating Pain: Side sleeping can help you to lessen lower back pain, acid reflux, heartburn, and even sleep apnea.
Boosting Brain Health: Side sleeping might aid in the even distribution of toxins within the brain, facilitating their removal by the body.
Improving Gut Health: This sleeping position can make your gut function better and may help reduce problems with the GI tract.
How to choose the best pillow for side sleepers?
Loft & Support
Side sleepers should monitor the pillow height so that the neck and head stay in place. Your body curves around the pillow and that’s the correct pillow height. This normal physiological curvature is what allows joints, muscles and ligaments of the shoulders and neck to be loose so that they can rest best. For a normal head, the pillow height should be a little less than the space between your shoulder and neck on the opposite side. For adults, that is between 8 and 15 centimetres. In order to work out the exact pillow height, think of this formula: add up your shoulder width and subtracted your head width then divide by two.
Firmness & Quality
A soft pillow can cause your head to roll out too far which can cause misalignment and more pressure. The same goes for a pillow that’s too firm as it can be a strain on your neck and shoulders. Side sleepers usually opt for a medium firm pillow for contouring and support. When we speak of medium-firm material, the standard pillow, or a shaped pillow with memory foam or latex that can give your head just the right support without expanding too quickly like pillows with polyfoam or down.
Pressure Relief
In addition, adding a pillow between your knees can enhance spinal alignment and decrease pressure on both the lower back and hips. Pillows stuffed with down, feathers, shredded foam, or other adjustable fillings are often the most comfortable. Additionally, you might experience greater comfort and relief from pressure by positioning the pillow under your legs.