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How a Contour Pillow Can Help You Sleep

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:21:07 +0000

Getting a good night of sleep can have a major impact on your ability to function as a productive member of society. Difficulties related to sleeping can lead to reduced productivity at work, health complications and can even cause emotional strain on yourself and those around you. Near the top of the most commonly cited reasons for sleep deprivation is neck and/or shoulder pain. There are millions of people throughout the world that aren’t even aware that neck pain is robbing them of peaceful sleep, yet it continues to affect them night after night.

While many people turn to prescription medications and/or physical therapy to get the relief they seek, others utilize a simpler approach – a contour pillow. A contour pillow is a variation on the traditional pillow in that it contains a sloped or “contoured” section that is meant to offer localized support for the back and neck. Rather than allowing your entire head, neck and shoulders to sink into the pillow, the contour pillow is designed to position your body into a natural sleep position, preventing the joints and muscles from becoming strained.

The majority of contour pillows are constructed from latex or memory foam, since these materials tend to retain their shape over time. Imagine compressing a piece of foam that has been formed into the shape of a cylinder, for instance. The foam compresses, but always returns back to its original shape. A memory foam contour pillow will also offer a unique combination of comfort and support that a traditional polyester pillow simply cannot provide. Rather than pushing back on pressure points like a traditional pillow might, a memory foam pillow will compress around the area of pressure and will distribute the pressure to other adjacent “cells” within the material itself.

Personally, I am a true believer in the contour pillow and have owned a Tempur-Pedic contour neck pillow for the past several years. The pillow still retains the exact shape it did when new and continues to provide unmatched support to my back and neck. Before purchasing the pillow I had become reliant on low doses of muscle relaxants and regular physical therapy to relieve my neck pain, but not any longer. Give me my contour pillow and I will sleep soundly every day of the year.

Most memory foam contour pillows are priced at around $100 for a standard size. The price will increase as size increases and will also vary based on the manufacturer. As always, when purchasing memory foam be sure to pay close attention to the density rating, which is a measure of the materials overall quality and its ability to provide support. A density rating of 3 pounds per cubic foot or greater is what you want. This simply means that a cubic foot of the material will weigh 3 pounds or more when tested. This rating should be displayed within the product literature and should be readily available through specialized mattress retailers.

Why I Love my Foam Pillow

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:17:57 +0000

It has been quite a personal journey for me from the days of using old, worn out polyester filled pillows to the memory foam pillow that I currently use. Like many people reading this article, I had grown to accept the fact that a pillow would eventually degrade and would need to be replaced after a period of time. Spending $20-30 on a new pillow every couple of years was just something I got used to, sort of like buying light bulbs or replacing batteries. The difference is that light bulbs and batteries work great when new. You see, the issue with cheap pillows is that they lack the ability to provide proper support from the outset. For someone like me that suffers from chronic neck pain, a polyester filled pillow just doesn’t cut it, even when new. I needed a better alternative; something that would ease my aching neck and allow me to get a restful night of sleep. Fortunately, I found the foam pillow and have never looked back.

Also referred to as memory foam pillows, foam pillows are constructed from polyethylene and other chemicals that give the material its trademark dense feel. When I say dense, I’m referring to the ability of the material to slowly “give in” to the weight of your body, enveloping it naturally without creating pressure. In contrast, other materials tend to push back on your body, forming unwanted pressure that can later lead to stiff muscles and body aches. Memory foam is also graded based on its density, so it’s safe to assume that foam with a higher density is of higher quality and will likely offer superior support. Of course, there is a tradeoff at some point, and experts agree that anything with a density greater than 5 pounds per cubic foot is likely too dense. The ideal density to look for is between 3 and 4 pounds per cubic foot, which will provide sufficient support while remaining comfortable.

There isn’t just one type of foam pillow that will be right for everyone. In fact, my wife has decided that a standard pillow is best for her, while I’ve opted for the memory foam neck pillow due to an existing medical condition. My pillow has provided such relief from nagging neck pain that I will never go anywhere without it. I take it with me on vacations and it even goes with me on business trips. For travel purposes, I’ve resorted to using a memory foam travel pillow, which works wonders on long flights and car rides.

The price for foam pillows fluctuates wildly depending on the size, shape and even the brand you choose. I decided long ago to purchase a Tempur-Pedic brand pillow not because I think the other brands are bad, but because I know I can get a product that is highly dense and positively reviewed. I purchased my queen sized pillow about 5 years ago for close to $100 and it still functions and appears like it did the day I bought it.

Sleep Better With a Memory Pillow

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:12:34 +0000

If you’re in the market for a memory foam mattress or even if you’re just looking to upgrade your pillow, consider purchasing a memory pillow. Memory pillows (also known and memory foam pillows) are constructed from polyurethane and other chemicals that help to increase the material’s density. Memory foam is unique in that it offers firm support and extreme comfort at the same time, which is something that most other materials simply cannot achieve. While most people consider their mattress to be the most important sleep component, the simple truth is that your pillow can also have a significant impact on the quality of sleep you are able to achieve. Apart from back pain, neck pain is one of the most common ailments cited by a majority of people. Knowing this, it’s important that you consider your choice of pillow carefully. When it comes to choosing a memory foam pillow there are a few things to consider:

1. Shape – both me and my spouse have memory foam pillows, though they are not identical. I have chosen the standard memory foam pillow, which has the shape of a traditional pillow while she has chosen a memory foam neck pillow, which has a contoured shape made to fit the profile of the neck and head. Your choice will depend entirely on how you sleep and whether or not you have a need for additional neck support. I chose the traditional version because I tend to sleep in a variety of positions throughout the night. If I were to spend the majority of time sleeping on my back I would have likely chosen the neck version.

2. Brand and Price – memory pillows are not cheap; in fact, a quality queen sized memory foam pillow can cost around $100. There are cheaper brands out there, but I caution against buying them, since they are often of inferior construction and may not offer the support (density) that is required. Our choice for memory foam pillows are produced by Tempur-Pedic due to their density and quality of craftsmanship. While the lowest priced versions of their pillows seem to suit us just fine, there are also a line of more expensive pillows. For example, the Tempur-Pedic Grand Pillow starts at $349 and features a removable silk cover and micro cushions. Sounds great, but a bit steep for my tastes.

3. Pillow Cover – you never want to sleep directly on top of an unprotected pillow, since you want to avoid staining it or allowing dust mites and dander to settle. Consider purchasing a pillow case, preferably an allergy pillow cover, which will protect against dust mites and other nasties.

If you’re serious about the quality of your sleep and desire the ultimate in comfort and support, then look no further than a memory pillow. Although you will pay a bit more initially than you would if you purchased a standard polyester filled pillow, you will have a pillow that will last you for years instead of months. A memory foam pillow will not become bunched up or contorted with use and will keep its original shape indefinitely.