By Ian Barefoot
Good Sleep Is Good For Your Health
Many people have trouble getting enough sleep, especially stomach and side sleepers who often struggle to find the right pillow. Our days are full, and there’s always more to do. We have distractions, health issues, and sometimes we simply don’t prioritize good sleep. When we do settle down at night, there may be barriers to getting enough good, refreshing sleep. Understanding the causes of sleep problems and creating the right sleep environment can go a long way in improving our sense of well-being, our health, and even our productivity and life satisfaction. When you’ve addressed other issues, finding the best pillow for side sleepers becomes crucial to support your comfort and quality of sleep night after night.
- Why Sleep is Important
- Common Sleep Problems and Disorders
- How a Quality Pillow Can Improve Your Sleep
- Signs Your Pillow Needs Replacing
- Does Your Pillow Meet Your Sleep Needs?
- Selecting the Right Pillow for Your Sleeping Style
How many hours of sleep do you typically get? Do you feel supported by your current pillow? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Importance of Quality Sleep
Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep a night. People who get enough sleep have better immune systems, so they get sick less often. Sleep helps regulate weight and blood sugar and is good for heart health. Lack of sleep contributes to mood disorders and stress and leads to fuzzy thinking and slower response time, making mistakes more likely. Making time for sleep and creating the right environment for a good night’s sleep go a long way in enhancing our health and quality of life. A quality adjustable pillow can increase the quality of your sleep and comfort.
Causes of Sleep Problems
Most American adults and teens do not get enough sleep. The causes range from stress and worry to caffeine and alcohol use, chronic pain, medications, or sleep disorders like sleep apnea. Some people experience sleep deprivation due to school and work demands, including night shift work or simply long shifts that leave too few hours in the day for other responsibilities, so that vital sleep is the one thing we give up.
Also, a factor that you can control is your sleep environment, including things like light and noise. Reducing distractions, drinking a relaxing cup of herbal tea, taking a warm bath, listening to soft music, or engaging in other simple relaxation activities can help get you ready for sleep. However, selecting the best pillow for stomach and side sleepers plays a crucial role in ensuring optimal comfort and support.
Sleep Disorders and Medical Conditions
Some people suffer from sleep disorders or medical conditions that make deep, quality sleep difficult to achieve. These are more common than you may think. Some disorders that can disrupt sleep include sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, fibromyalgia, acid reflux, restless leg syndrome, allergies, and chronic back and neck pain. If you have symptoms related to these, such as not being able to fall asleep, still feeling tired when you wake up, snoring, stopping breathing off and on during sleep, tingling in legs or arms, recurring muscle cramps, or chronic pain, talk with your doctor. Other health-related sleep disrupters include stuffiness, cough, and headaches, which may be related to your sleep environment or made worse by allergens or poor head and neck support. This can be remedied by using a supportive pillow with medium firmness.
With any health condition, making your bedroom and sleep experience as relaxing and supportive as possible, including selecting the best pillow for stomach and side sleepers, will help improve your ability to sleep well and aid in your recovery.
The Benefits of a Good Pillow for Stomach and Side Sleepers – and Why You Need One
For anyone having a hard time getting and staying asleep, sometimes a big factor is being able to simply fully relax and let go of the cares of the day. If your pillow is uncomfortable, flattened by wear, too hard, or too soft, you may unknowingly be unable to fully relax and fall asleep. Be sure that your the loft of your pillow is supportive and suited to your sleep style.
Is Your Pillow Too Old?
As pillows age, they lose loft and become harder as the filling compacts over time. They lose their ability to cushion your head and neck as you sleep. A pillow that is too flat will cause your head and neck to go out of alignment as you rest. Without the right support, your neck, head, and back must do the work to support you, causing you to toss and turn, change positions, and wake up with aches and neck pains.
Older pillows also pick up allergens, like dust mites, that can cause symptoms like skin breakouts or itchiness, a stuffy nose, and sneezing. These symptoms may seem minor, but they can disrupt your sleep enough to lead to symptoms of sleep deprivation. Most pillows are machine washable. Even so, pillows generally last about two years. If your pillow is not performing like it did when new, it is time to replace it.
Do You Have the Wrong Pillow?
If you like to sleep on your stomach, having a thick, lofty pillow will bend your neck back, causing discomfort and pain. If you are a side sleeper, a flat pillow won’t lift your head far enough off the bed to align your spine along the neck and upper back. And if you need to sleep slightly elevated due to sleep apnea or another condition, a thin pillow won’t provide the back support you need. When you align your body correctly in bed with a supportive loft pillow, you will notice that you immediately relax into the pillow and mattress. You’ll naturally feel more like falling asleep. If that isn’t happening, consider finding the right pillow that will help you get the refreshing sleep you need. Sometimes you can’t find the best pillow for side and front sleeping. Typically, pillows suited to side and back sleeping are firmer than those favored by stomach sleepers.
Selecting the Right Pillow for Back, Stomach and Side Sleepers.
Your preferred sleep position and health conditions affect the type of pillow you need to get your best sleep. Pillows may be flat or lofty, soft, medium, or hard, and made with different materials and fillings that affect the overall feel and supportive qualities of the pillow. As a purveyor of luxury pillows for hotels and resorts, Sobel Westex offers pillows for various sleep styles and needs. Here are a few that work best for different sleep styles.
Dolce Notte II Pillow
Pillows with a lot of loft are generally better for side sleepers. If you need to elevate your head to avoid symptoms of problems like acid reflux, a lofty pillow with some firmness for plenty of back support, such as the Dolce Notte II pillow, is a good choice.
Sobella Supremo Pillow
Back sleepers and stomach sleepers who prefer to sleep flat will do best by choosing a pillow designed for stomach sleepers—a lower pillow that allows the head and neck to align. Consider options such as the Sobella Supremo gel alternative pillow or the popular Hotel Sahara Nights Pillow.
Hotel Sobella Soft Pillow
If you need luxurious relaxation to let tension melt away, you may benefit from a soft pillow that still offers plenty of support but lets you sink deep into its soft interior, such as the Sobella Soft Pillow. A supportive pillow that is built for medium firmness and perfect for side sleepers.
Bellazure Down Soft Pillow
A feather and down pillow, like the Bellazure Down Soft Pillow, is widely cherished for its ability to provide the ultimate relaxation and ensure a comfortable sleep experience, especially for stomach and side sleepers. When searching for the best pillow for stomach and side sleepers, consider options that offer hypoallergenic properties alongside the necessary support and comfort, such as the Hotel Sobella Hypoallergenic Medium gel fiber-filled pillow.
Remember that achieving a good night’s sleep is crucial for maintaining long-term overall health and maximizing your daily enjoyment. Take the time to understand and address your specific sleep issues and make an informed choice when selecting a pillow that caters to the needs of stomach and side sleepers. By finding the best pillow for back, stomach and side sleepers, depending on your preference, you can optimize your sleep quality and wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
