1. Pillows are not for your "head" to rest!

Many people think that pillows are designed for the "head", but in fact, the design of pillows is more about supporting the neck. When lying down, you should place a pillow under the pillow so that the neck is hollow, especially the space behind the neck (when lying on your back) or the space between the face and the shoulder (when lying on your side).

When placing your head on the pillow, there will be a certain distance between the shoulder and the pillow. This will cause the cervical spine to hang in the air, the neck muscles will not be able to rest, leading to muscle tension, pain, and even difficulty. in sleep.

2. Should the pillow be higher or lower?

When sleeping, some people prefer a higher pillow, some people prefer a shorter pillow, because they all think that their height is the most suitable. So is the height of the pillow important? In fact, using a pillow of an inappropriate height for a long time not only affects sleep but also easily damages the cervical spine, causing neck pain.

If the pillow is too low, it will easily cause "stiff neck". If the pillow is too high, it will affect the airway, easily causing snoring, and high pillows for a long time will easily lead to neck fatigue or hunchback. The appropriate pillow height can keep the shoulders and head at the same level and reduce neck curvature. For a good night's sleep, keep your head level with your body when lying on your back and place the pillow behind your neck at a height that allows your head to maintain a slightly tilted position. When lying on your side, prop up the pillow. It should be at shoulder level, so that the neck and shoulder muscles are in a relaxed state. Specifically, a pillow 10-12 cm high is suitable for adults (when lying on your back, the height of the pillow is one fist of your own. When lying on your side, the height of the pillow is the height of one fist plus the thickness of your palm.

A baby about 8 months old only needs a pillow 1-3 cm high, a newborn does not need a pillow.

3. What is the best pillow?

Some people may be curious, in addition to the appropriate height, what other conditions does a good pillow need?

Length: The length is slightly longer than the shoulder width and the width is greater than 30 cm, the recommended length of an adult pillow is from 40 to 60 cm (about 15 cm longer than the user's shoulder width), and the width is not less than 30 cm, to ensure that it can always be supported while sleeping.

Pillow shape: low in the middle and high at both ends There are many types of pillows on the market today, most of which are is a flat shape, although the pillow shape is beautiful but not suitable for the physiological curvature of the cervical spine. The ideal pillow shape is low in the middle, high in the circumference or high in the front and low in the back. This shape can use the concave part in the middle to maintain the physiological curve of the cervical spine.

Pillow core: Moderate hardness, good ventilation, the pillow core should not be too hard, a hard pillow with a small contact area with the head will increase pressure, making the scalp uncomfortable. On the contrary, a pillow that is too soft will cause discomfort, the neck muscles are easily tired and is also not good for sleep. Therefore, the pillow core should be slightly soft without losing a certain hardness.

Note: You should replace the pillow every 6 months, the maximum time is not more than 2 years. Don't be obsessed with health pillows and beauty pillows. This type of "medicinal pillow" may have certain effects but cannot replace treatment. Choose the pillow that makes you sleep most comfortably!