Ever wake up with a stiff neck? Constantly looking down at your smartphone or computer will make your neck ache, a problem Andrew Bang, DC, has dubbed “text neck,” or tech neck. “Sleeping on your back, with your head bent forward, will make the problem worse,” he says. “As will sleeping on your side, with your head bent drastically to the side. Or, even worse, on your stomach, with your head twisted and tilted at odd angles.” A pillow should keep your neck parallel to the mattress, rather than bent down or up. Here are seven tips from Dr. Bang for choosing a neck-friendly pillow: Cervical contour pillows work best for most people, he says. Your head rests in a depression in the center. Your neck rests on either a less elevated side when you’re lying on your back, or on a more elevated side when you’re lying on your side. Foam contour pillows are next best at supporting your neck. Natural latex offers support without heating you up like memory foam.
“People may not realize that they become hot at night. This can make for restless sleep. By sleeping cooler, you sleep deeper,” says Dr. Bang. Of course, if you’re allergic to latex, you’ll want to use memory foam pillows. They may be affordable, but feather pillows don’t provide much neck stability. “They feel super comfy when you first settle in. But the feathers move when you do, so you wind up with no support, causing you pain,” says Dr. Bang. Down pillows are somewhat more supportive but still require fluffing up. However, if you’re allergic to animal dander, neither of these fillers will work for you. RELATED: Don’t Let ‘Text Neck’ Get the Best of You “The fun thing about buckwheat pillows is you sleep very cool. A lot of air circulates between the hulls,” says Dr. Bang. They are also cost-effective, have renewable filler, and support your neck when you sleep on your side. But the hulls make noise as they move during the night, and that support can slip away as it would in a beanbag, he notes.
There isn’t much research on pillows with mixed fillers, such as memory foam or latex with shredded foam and a gel insert. “Pillows with too much material jammed in or that remain too fluffy can hold your neck in an awkward position,” cautions Dr. Bang. Shredded foam can cool you but loses its stability over time if you sleep on your side. RELATED: Do You Have a Stiff Neck? Try These Simple Remedies If you’re in the habit of sleeping on your stomach, which isn’t ideal, body and side pillows can improve your sleep posture. “They provide the pressure on the stomach you’ve grown used to, while keeping you in a side-lying position,” says Dr. Bang. These pillows can help keep your spine aligned and support your growing belly during pregnancy, or if you happen to have large hips. If you have a firmer mattress, you’ll need a thicker pillow, because your shoulder won’t sink into the mattress very much. “The pillow will need to fill a larger gap between your head and your mattress,” says Dr. Bang.
If you have a memory foam mattress topper or a pillow-top mattress, you’ll need a thinner pillow, because your shoulder will sink into the bed. “The pillow will need to fill a smaller space between your shoulder and your head,” he says. “Each pillow has its pros and cons. There isn’t one type of pillow that will satisfy everyone’s needs,” says Dr. Bang. But these guidelines, based on research, can help you find a pillow that’s right for you. A pillow that supports your neck and helps you sleep soundly — and pain-free. RELATED: What’s Keeping You Up at Night?A good nights sleep is super important for your health and well being. If you have a really good quality mattress, you’ll want to protect it. If your mattress is a bit uncomfortable or old, you’ll want to make it more comfortable. A mattress topper can do both of these things. But with so many options, how do you find the right mattress topper for your specific needs? Well, we’re here to give you some mattress topper reviews and tips about what to look for when shopping for a new topper.
1 Sleep innovations 4 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper See Price on Amazon This mattress topper is a huge seller and features 4 inches of unbeatable comfort.. 2 Inches of cooling gel memory foam layered with 2 inches of plush fiber makes this mattress topper perfect for side, stomach or back sleepers. The cover can be removed easily and is washer and dryer safe. The Sleep Innovations topper is made in the USA and offers a limited 10 Year warranty which is not something you’ll find in your local Walmart. This shows that the manufacturer stands by their product and you’ll be sure to get a really good quality topper at an affordable price. The reviews for the Sleep Innovations Topper is excellent. One guy said that he slept for 8 hours straight the first night he got the topper and that it was the first time in years that he was able to sleep so long uninterrupted. Lots of other people had the same experience with one lady saying she was late for work the next day because she slept right through her alarm.
One person did complain saying that the topper was a bit too plush for him and that it was hurting his back while others said that the memory foam combined with the plush fiber was actually helping their back pain a lot. The vast majority of Sleep Innovation mattress topper reviews we found were stellar so we are very confident in recommending this product to you. 2 Exceptional Sheets Plush Bamboo Fitted Mattress Topper Here’s another great option for you to consider if memory foam is not your thing. The cover is made from natural Bamboo fabric which helps to regulate body temperature while allowing the mattress to cool. It is filled with a special hypoallergenic alternative down cluster fiber called Revoloft. Revoloft goes through an extra engineering process to create balls of fiber that trap air which enables more air flow than any other mattress topper and it allows the topper to keep it’s shape longer. The Hypoallergenic materials are also great for people who suffer from allergies.
This mattress topper is perfect if you have a tendency to get hot during the night from memory foam or other foam mattresses. The company is US veteran owned and they offer a no questions asked money back guarantee. We found well over 3000 reviews for this topper online. More than any other topper on the market and they are stellar to say the least. People absolutely love this topper and all say that it is much cooler than the memory foam mattress toppers and also a little bit firmer which some people like. We found only one somewhat negative review for this mattress topper and that was a lady that washed it and then it shrunk just enough to not fit her mattress anymore. The company immediately sent her a new one and said that if it happens again they will refund her money. This is the kind of service we like to see and recommend to our readers. 3 All Season Down Alternative Mattress Topper If you are looking to spend less on a mattress topper bust still need a quality one then this is the one for you.
It costs less than a hundred bucks and have well over 1000 happy customer reviews. It features a 2 inch memory foam pad which is not as fluffy as the thicker ones but a lot of people like that and say that it is still very comfortable. Most of the reviews we found were very positive and from our research this is the best Mattress Topper you’ll find in the budget range. Mattress toppers are made from a number of different materials, so we’re going to look at each type in a little more detail. Latex foam is a durable and resilient material. It also provides a lot of comfort and support for the person sleeping on it. Natural latex mattress toppers are made of rubber, which comes from the sap of the Para rubber tree. The trees are not harmed when the sap is collected making this type of mattress topper an environmentally friendly product. It’s important to note however that not all latex mattress toppers are 100% natural. So if you’re looking for a natural latex foam mattress topper, make sure you do a little bit of research so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Memory foam mattress toppers have become very popular over the last several years. The reason they have become so popular is because they are extremely comfortable. Memory foam is made from polyurethane and is designed with millions of open and spherical cells. This is what gives memory foam its unique properties. The ability of this type of material to compress and flex and then return to its original shape makes it very comfortable. Memory foam is also a great material for couples. Two people sharing a bed can move independently without disturbing one another because the movements are not transferred across the entire mattress topper. If you sleep with a partner who tosses and turns all night long, a memory foam mattress topper might be just what you’re looking for. Down feathers are very soft and are often used in luxury mattress toppers. Being soft makes them very comfortable. If you like to sleep on a very soft surface, this may be the topper for you. If you want something firm, with a little more support, you’ll want to get a mattress topper made of a different material.
One drawback of natural feather mattress toppers is that they will need to be fluffed up on a somewhat regular basis to stop the feathers from clumping together and making the mattress topper lumpy. Wool mattress toppers are very durable and will last for a long time. Wool is also a great insulator and will help keep you nice and warm. This type of mattress topper is not going to be as comfortable as one made with down feathers or some type of foam however. If you have allergies, you’re going to want to look for a mattress topper that is hypoallergenic. This will normally be clearly marked on the packaging, or on the sales page if you are shopping online. If you are sleeping on a mattress that is not hypoallergenic, a hypoallergenic mattress topper may help alleviate your symptoms without the need to buy a whole new mattress. If you’re buying a foam mattress topper, not all foam is created equal. The quality and density of the materials used will make a big difference in the comfort and durability of the mattress topper.
For maximum comfort in a foam mattress topper, most people would go with a 4 pound memory foam. If you want something a little more firm and supportive, a 5 pound memory foam would be a good choice. There are some mattress pads on the market these days that have features that some customers may be interested in. For example, some mattress toppers are designed to be odor eliminating and act as a protective layer between you and your mattress. There are also some mattress toppers that are designed to prevent bedbugs. If you’re interested in any features other than quality, durable materials, keep those things in mind when you are doing your comparison shopping. When shopping for a new topper, you may want to stick to the brand names. Buying one from a reputable manufacturer gives you the best chance of purchasing a quality product. Of course you should do some comparison shopping online first. Just because a mattress topper costs more doesn’t always mean it’s a better product.