Problems with pillows The cervical spine is located at the top of the human spine, wrapped in the neck, and consists of 7 vertebrae.
The so-called physiological arc is a smooth, forward-facing arc formed by these seven vertebrae. The function of the pillow is to maintain this normal physiological curve.
How to maintain a normal physiological curvature depends on whether you are clear about the height, softness, and hardness of the pillow.
The height and softness of the pillow are key. According to analysis, when a person is lying on his back, the optimal cervical curvature is about 3 cm.
Pillows that are too high or too low, too soft or too hard will not only affect the quality of sleep but also affect the health of the body.
It also causes and aggravates the hidden dangers of cervical spondylosis.
A good pillow should be able to support the head and neck at the best angle, be moderately soft and hard, quickly return to its original shape after being put under pressure, and not easily deformed after long-term use. Customers also buy at flawless face pillow discount code NHS
With traditional pillows, the head is placed on the highest point of the pillow, and the cervical vertebrae are suspended in the air.
Which puts the muscles, ligaments, and joints around the neck in a state of tension, and blocks the passage of the vertebral artery, resulting in a stiff neck, dizziness, and fatigue after waking up.
According to ergonomics, the shape of the pillow is “high in front and low in back” which is most beneficial to the health of the cervical spine.
This kind of pillow can use the front bulge to maintain the physiological curvature of the cervical spine. Self-examination criteria for changing pillows:
In the absence of other physical diseases, I often feel numbness and soreness in my neck after waking up. This is because the shape and curvature of the pillow are wrong.
Pillow Height
The height of the pillow also varies from person to person. Although there is an old proverb about “sit back and relax”, it does not mean that the higher the pillow, the better.
Because the pillow is too high, no matter what position you sleep in, it will affect your sleep.
It will not maintain the normal lordosis curvature of the cervical spine but will move backward. Increasing the burden on the cervical spine and may also cause a stiff neck.
Similarly, it is not good to have a pillow that is too low. Because a pillow that is too low will congest the head and easily cause swollen eyelids and face.
How to Choose Height?
As the saying goes, you can sit back and relax, but this is not the case. High pillows cause the cervical vertebrae to bend too forward, causing excessive tension and fatigue in the soft tissues of the neck, which can easily lead to a stiff neck.
At the same time, pillows that are too high can lead to insufficient blood supply to the brain. Which is particularly detrimental to vertebral artery-type cervical spondylosis.
On the contrary, some people like to sleep without pillows or with pillows that are too low.
This is not good either. The cervical vertebrae are likely to be in a suspended state. The lower jaw will be raised upwards, making it easy for mouth breathing and snoring. Buyers also visit eBay discount code NHS.
Research shows that for Asian adults, the appropriate pillow height is about 8-12 cm. Please refer to the table below for specific selections.
Generally speaking, our sleeping positions are divided into three types: supine, side, and stomach.
It is best to choose a pillow that can maintain the normal physiological curvature of the neck whether you sleep on your back or your side.
For adults, the height of the pillow should be about 15-20 cm when sleeping on the back. And about 20-15 cm when sleeping on the side.
Self-examination standards for replacing pillows. The pillows has lost its elasticity and needs to be patted for a while to restore its elasticity.
At this time, the pillow is not elastic enough, which affects the cervical spine.
Pillow Hardness
The hardness of the pillow should also be moderate because a hard pillow reduces the contact area with the head and increases the pressure.
The scalp will feel uncomfortable; conversely, a pillow that is too soft will make it difficult to maintain a certain height.
This will cause excessive fatigue of the neck muscles and affect smooth breathing, which is not conducive to sleep.
Only by being slightly softer without losing a certain degree of hardness can we reduce the pressure between the pillow and the scalp.
But also maintain uneven pressure, so that blood circulation can pass through places with less pressure and maintain a certain height.
How to Choose Quality?
Composite high-density polyether polyurethane (tempur) was developed by NASA to relieve the pressure on astronauts and was gradually used in various medical and civilian products.
In particular, pillows made of this material have adhesive properties.
Due to its elastic properties, it can automatically deform as the head and neck position changes. and maintain a tightly integrated position with the neck at all times.
It can especially fix the head and prevent it from slipping and causing a “stiff neck”.
Self-examination standards for replacing pillows: After finally adjusting the pillow, it quickly returned to flatness. Such pillows have poor elasticity and need to be replaced.
Pillow Width
Under normal circumstances, the width of the pillows should be wider than the shoulders.
Do not sleep on a pillow that is too small, because when you turn over, the pillow cannot support your neck.
In addition, a pillow that is too small will affect the sense of security during sleep. You can also view the Amazon discount code NHS.
How to Choose Length, Width, and Height?
Experts teach you how to choose pillows. First of all, you should ask for it to have enough space.
Generally speaking, the length of adult pillows should be between 50 and 70 cm. The width should not be less than 30 cm, and the height should be around 10-15 cm.
Self-examination standards for pillow replacement: The pillows are lumpy and uneven, and the filling has a damp odor. Such pillows are harmful to health and need to be replaced.
