PILLOW FOR SNORERS

PILLOW FOR SNORERS

from the article 'What’s the Right Pillow for You?'
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Snorers (and Their Partners)

If you or your bedmate snores like a foghorn, take heart. An anti-snoring pillow can help.

They’re designed to support the back of the neck and subtly shift a back-sleeper’s head to “the sniff position.” That’s as if you sat upright and pulled your head slightly forward to smell something, Kotler says. This opens airways for easier breathing.

It’s a gentle adjustment that won’t create other problems, such as neck pain.

If that doesn’t help, other factors may be at play.

Some snoring is related to sleep apnea, a dangerous condition marked by gasping or periods of stopped breathing during sleep.

Sleep apnea raises the risk of high blood pressure and is linked to depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease. If you suspect you or your partner have it, consult a doctor.

MY THOUGHTS

scary,huh!  here's a sample of an anti-snoring pillow

cgi.ebay.com

PILLOW FOR ALLERGY SUFFERER

PILLOWS FOR ALLERGY SUFFERERS

from the article "What’s the Right Pillow for You?"
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Allergy Sufferers

Choose synthetic fibers if you have asthma or allergies.

“Feather pillows can worsen allergies and make you cough or wheeze at night,” says Ronald Kotler, M.D., medical director of the Pennsylvania Hospital Sleep Disorders Center in Philadelphia and author of 365 Ways to Get a Good Night’s Sleep (Adams Media).

Other allergens that might be hiding in your pillow: pollen, pet dander and dust mites – plus their fecal matter. To keep these away from your head, use an anti-allergy pillow cover (on its own or under a regular pillowcase).

In addition to helping you sleep through the night, these pillows could make you look better when you wake up. These irritants often lead to morning facial swelling and puffiness, according to Mehmet Oz, M.D., co-author of YOU: The Owner’s Manual (Collins).

Down alternatives, such as lamb’s wool or silk, are natural dust-mite repellants, so they can also provide relief. Memory foam and water pillows are hypoallergenic too.

MY THOUGHTS

if you don't have this allergy, consider yourself really lucky. my nephew is so sensitive to dust, mites, insects.  everything has to be hypoallergenic.  quite expensive to maintain.

PILLOW FOR STOMACH SLEEPERS

PILLOW FOR STOMACH SLEEPERS

from the article "What’s the Right Pillow for You?"
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Stomach Sleepers

Sleeping on your stomach is a no-no. Don’t do it.

When you lie on your stomach, you have to twist your head in order to breathe. That can lead to neck pain and headaches, Zarzana says. Stomach sleeping also stresses the lower back.

Break the habit by sleeping on your side with a body pillow in front of you, McAllister suggests. This type of pillow is three times as long as a king-size, allowing you to snooze on your side while keeping the front of your body comfortably supported.

MY THOUGHTS

i've never really met anyone who sleeps on his/her stomach. except babies. i hope you're not one of them. if you are, go and get the body pillow.

PILLOW FOR NECK PAIN SUFFERERS

from the article "What’s the Right Pillow for You?"
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Neck Pain Sufferers

For the 35%-80% of the population who suffer from neck soreness, memory foam and water-based pillows are best, Zarzana says.
In fact, snoozing on a water-based pillow can relieve chronic neck pain, reduce the frequency of headaches and improve sleep by better supporting neck muscles, according to a 1997 Johns Hopkins University study.

MY THOUGHTS

in case you've forgotten, here's a memory pillow

www.alibaba.com

and a water pillow

www.allegromedical.com

PILLOW FOR SIDE SLEEPERS

PILLOW FOR SIDE SLEEPERS

from the article "What’s the Right Pillow for You?"
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Side Sleepers

A little feather pillow doesn’t give side sleepers the spine proper support. This can lead to compression of the vertebrae. If you’ve woken up with numbness and tingling in your arms, you’ve probably experienced that.

To keep your spine aligned, side sleepers should use a medium-firm pillow that supports the back and neck.

When testing different pillows, lie on your side and make sure the space under your neck – between the head and shoulders – is well-supported, Maas says.

To improve overall spinal alignment, sleep with a “leg-spacer” pillow between your knees, Zarzana suggests. These are designed to relieve pressure on the hips, knees, ankles and joints.

These pillows may also ease sciatica pain by reducing pressure on lumbar vertebrae where the sciatic nerve is located, says Wayne McAllister, a chiropractor in Stockton, Calif.

MY THOUGHTS

that's me!  i always sleep on my side. right or left.  but never on my back.  and i always wake up with numb and tingling arms.i should get one leg-spacer pillow -

RIGHT PILLOW FOR BACK SLEEPERS

RIGHT PILLOW FOR BACK SLEEPERS

from the article 'What’s the Right Pillow for You?'
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Back Sleepers

In this position, an unsupportive pillow or no pillow at all may place unnecessary pressure on the back and the joints between the vertebrae.

But a stack of pillows can cause injury too, Zanzana warns. If it makes your head jut farther forward than normal, you’ll get pain and tightness in your neck.

For back sleepers, she recommends memory foam, which molds to the neck’s natural curve. Denser pillows tend to be more supportive, but they’re also more expensive.

Another option is a water pillow, which has a water-filled base sandwiched between polyester filling. Just add water to achieve the desired pillow height.

Both types of pillows offer consistent support, even when you change positions.

Also, placing a second pillow under your knees – such as a bolster (tube-shaped pillow), half-bolster or wedge – can alleviate pressure on the lower back.

MY THOUGHTS

if you're wondering....

here's a memory pillow from bracesupport.com

a water pillow from zimbio.com

and a bolster from seattlehomesmag.com

IS YOUR PILLOW CAUSING YOU SLEEPLESS NIGHTS?

IS YOUR PILLOW CAUSING YOU SLEEPLESS NIGHTS?

from the article 'What’s the Right Pillow for You?'
By Bonnie McCarthy, Special to Lifescript
Published January 30, 2011

Having trouble sleeping? The right pillow can help you rest through the night. Whether you’re a back-sleeper or champion snorer, we’ll guide you to the best place to lay your head…

Hitting the pillow and getting some shut-eye isn’t always as easy as it seems.

About 75% of Americans suffer from one or more sleep disorders at least a few nights a week, says psychologist James Maas, Ph.D., a sleep expert and the author of Power Sleep (Harper).

Pain can also keep you up at night. Nearly 60% of U.S. women report that physical discomfort interrupts their slumber at least three nights a week, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation.

Poor sleep doesn’t just leave you bleary-eyed the next day. It can also have serious health consequences, including a higher risk of hypertension, stroke and heart attack, Maas says.

So what’s costing you those precious zzz’s?

Possibly your pillow.

The right support is medium firm and not too thick. It keeps your head and neck in a line, as if you were standing up, according to Maas.

If it doesn’t, you can end up with headaches, insomnia, pain, stiffness, and numbness or tingling in the arms, says Michelle Zarzana, D.C., a chiropractor in Long Beach, Calif.

And remember, pillows have a shelf life.

“Good pillows might last 4-5 years if you’re lucky, but there are people sleeping with the same pillow they’ve had since they were children,” Maas says.

And that’s just the beginning. The way you sleep and certain health conditions also determine which pillow you need. We asked experts how to get the right support.

MY THOUGHTS

let's just stop right there.  the article is too long.  anyway, the kind of pillow you need depends on the type of sleeper you are.  which could be any of the following:

1. Back Sleepers

2. Side Sleepers

3. Stomach Sleepers

4. Neck Pain Sufferers

5. Allergy Sufferers
6. Snorers (and Their Partners)

7. Pregnant Women