Memory Foam Pillows: The Simple Solution for Neck Pain

If you woke up with a stiff neck after a long night’s sleep, then you are not alone! Research says two-thirds of people suffer from regular neck pain. And, about 10 % deal with chronic neck pain. In recent times, many people reached out to me seeking a natural, permanent, and easy remedy for neck pain. I suggested they try memory foam pillows for neck pain. In this blog, I will explain why I suggested that how it helps and what exactly is memory foam pillow is. So, Read on!

While neck pain is more common in middle-aged people, it can impact anyone. This pain can stem from an injury, spondylosis, text neck, your sleeping posture or even your pillow can be the culprit. 

Your pillow plays an important role in comforting or worsening your neck pain!

Also Read: Text neck – The modern tech pain

Why you must invest in a pillow?

The right type of pillow can provide you with the support that helps the spine rest comfortably. This improves your sleep quality and gives your body the time to heal itself from postural and physical difficulties you faced during the day.

Also, using the wrong pillow can make it difficult for you to fall asleep. And as I have said many times, poor sleep can result in several health issues. Starting from an irked mood the next day to raised blood pressure, increased risks of obesity to diabetes, the list is endless!

According to a 2017 study, the wrong pillow increases stress on the spine and may cause –

• Neck pain and stiffness of the neck
• Headaches 
• Arm pain
• Shoulder pain
• Backache

That’s why it is important to invest in your pillow so that you can save on the medical bills!

But which pillow to pick?

Studies say that memory foam pillows provide support and help reduce neck fatigue. It helps you sleep in the best position for your spine, supports the natural curve of your neck, and helps ease your existing neck pain.

The University of Rochester Medical Center advises that muscles and ligaments should be relaxed while you sleep so they can heal. The right pillow that keeps your neck aligned with your chest and lower back prevents muscle strains while you sleep. Memory Foam Doctor explains that spine alignment prevents pressure on the nerves and promoted blood flow.

What is Memory Foam?

Memory foam is made from polyurethane. It gets this peculiar name because it always remembers its original shape. Memory foam changes its shape under pressure, but it returns to its original shape when the pressure is gone. This foam is firmer and maintains its shape thus, giving you extra head and neck support.

Benefits of memory foam

Memory foam is one of the best choices of pillows for better head and neck support. It feels soft and conforms to the body. Research suggests that using memory foam pillows of good quality can help reduce pain and promote sleep comfort.

Eases your Pressure Points

One of the biggest advantages of using a memory foam pillow is that it can ease your pressure points by distributing the weight. This helps in relieving chronic pain of the neck, shoulder, and back.

Also Read: Ayurvedic treatment for Back Pain

It contours to your comfort

Memory foam molds to your head and retains excellent contour to keep your neck and spine aligned. Most regular pillows tend to tilt your head thus resulting in snoring, pain, and sleep stress! 

It may be the solution to your Snoring

That’s right. Memory foam pillows can help reduce your snoring problems. Snoring is one of the most common sleep problems that can severely impact the quality of your sleep. Snoring interrupts your sleep and can result in sleep apnea.

Regular pillows force your head to tilt upwards and close off the air passages resulting in snoring. However, memory foam pillows help maintain your neck and spine in alignment. 

Also Read: 10 Easy Snoring Remedies

Memory Foam has great Breathability

Greater breathability of your pillow foam is very important for promoting airflow and transporting moisture. This will keep the pillow cool and dry. This is an important feature that not only enhances the durability of your pillow but also impacts your comfort.

Changing your pillow can cure your Headaches

Wait! This might sound strange but experts claim that chronic neck pain and sleep stress can result in headaches.  Thus, switching your pillow to a soft, comforting one can be the simple remedy you are looking for. 

What Research says

Several studies suggested that memory foam pillows offer great neck support, reduce neck pain and improve your sleep quality. Another study revealed that people who used memory foam pillows while undergoing treatment showed better improvements in neck pain.

It can further help in reducing snoring and treating sleep apnea. A study on people suffering from sleep apnea found that switching to memory foam pillows resulted in reduced snoring, reduced sleep interruptions, and better sleep quality!

The best memory foam pillows according to your sleep posture

Memory foam pillows conform to the head and neck, offering supportive sleep. However, the right choice of memory foam pillow depends on your sleep posture, body weight, and preference. Here are some tips to choose the right memory foam pillow:

If you’re a side sleeper, then go for a thicker memory foam pillow with better height. A low-height pillow can result in a cranked neck. 

For those who love sleeping on the back, then a thin and slim memory foam pillow can offer better sleep quality. Using a thick pillow can make your neck flexed and result in neck pain.

The best option is to buy an adjustable memory foam pillow that comes with pads that you can add or remove to get the desired height. You can adjust a memory foam pillow from 4.5 inches to half an inch thickness. However, usually, the pillow should maintain a height of 4 inches to offer the best spinal alignment and greatest comfort.

Final Takeaway

So, next time you walk into the store to buy a pillow, make sure to ask for memory foam pillows. They are not only comforting and supporting but can also help reduce your headaches, backaches, and neck pain. It can also be the solution to your sleep apnea!

Before buying a new memory foam pillow, is also important to understand your individualistic preference. So, do try different types of memory foam pillows to understand which one suits you best!