REST EASY

The position you sleep in and the mattress and pillow you use influence your quality of sleep. In future issues, I'll talk about sleep positions and finding the right mattress, but this week, I'd like to share some insight on choosing the right pillow.

Pillows come in all shapes, sizes and prices. There are so many choices that selecting the right pillow can seem daunting. Here is my advice: In general, your pillow must support in the sleep positions you are in at night. If you only sleep on your back, your pillow must support you neck curve (lordosis) accordingly. If you only sleep on your side, the pillow must be thick enough to  support from the neck to the shoulder at a 90° angle. If you sleep on both your back and side, the pillow needs to support both positions.

Memory foam pillows offer support but don't help to encourage the proper neck curve (lordosis). The pillow that I use and recommend to my patients is called a 'linear gravity' pillow. It is made with a comfortable moderate density foam which is very comfortable, hypoallergenic, durable and has a shape that supports the cervical curve to the shoulders whether sleeping on your back or side.

If you sleep on your stomach, you could be causing or contributing to some health issues that we'll talk about at another time. The 'linear gravity' pillow can be purchased through most medical healthcare offices and is available at our office for $30. Call (781) 231-3492 to order one today, and start sleeping better!

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