If you’ve been waking up with neck pain, arm numbness, or simply not feeling rested enough, your pillow could be the problem. Although your mattress is important, using the wrong pillow for your preferred sleeping position could throw off your spinal alignment, leading to soreness and nerve pain. Here are some factors to remember when you’re seeking a pillow to reduce aches and improve sleep.

For Sleeping On Your Back

When you prefer lying face-up, pillows with medium height are recommended. To be certain your pillow is at the right level, you should feel like your head is being supported without any upward craning of your neck. Between 4 and 5 inches is the suggested pillow height for back sleepers. Less than that, and your head likely won’t have enough support. 

Medium firmness, directly halfway between firm and soft, is recommended for this sleep position, to align your head with your spine without flattening during the night. This means that the pillow shouldn’t be so firm that it doesn’t conform to the shapes of your head and neck, but also not overly soft and let your head completely sink down to the mattress overnight. Pillows made with materials like feathers, latex, and buckwheat can work well for sleeping face-up.  

For Sleeping On Your Side

When you sleep on your side, your pillow should have a tall enough profile that it props your head up to align with your spine. A suitably high pillow will also relieve the weight pressing on your shoulder. If your shoulder tends to sink deeply into the mattress when you sleep on your side, your pillow needs more height. 

Your pillow should also be firm enough to hold up under your head’s weight throughout the night. If your head sinks, the spinal alignment is thrown off and you could wake up with neck pain and stiffness. Medium firm should be sufficient for this, to ensure your head doesn’t sink down while you’re sleeping. 

Commonly made with memory foam, medium firm pillows can hold your head up, but are soft enough to conform to its shape. Down pillows can also be used, as they can be fluffed and shaped to be taller. 5 to 7 inches of pillow height is recommended for side sleepers. 

For a pillow that will optimize your sleep health, visit Sleep Central in Minocqua, WI. These mattress, pillow, and bedding experts have been providing outstanding customer service for over 20 years and carry a wide range of products to meet your needs, regardless of your sleep position. Check their inventory online or call (715) 356-3488 for more information.