[custom_adv] Is your pillow hurting your neck — and your sleep? 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. [custom_adv] “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.” [custom_adv] 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. [custom_adv] 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. [custom_adv] If you have a firmer mattress, you’ll need a thicker pillow, because your shoulder won’t sink into the mattress very much. 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. [custom_adv] Most people prefer to snooze this way. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 56% of Americans like to do some form of side sleeping, whether it’s in the fetal position or with your legs and torso a little more straight. And per the NPF, there are some solid perks to side sleeping: It can help decrease acid reflux, lessen the risk of back and neck pain and keep your airway open. [custom_adv] Sleeping without a pillow can prevent acne breakout. When you sleep on your side, your face rests on the pillow. Now the pillow cover may actually be latched with dirt, bacteria, and dust which can stick to your skin and increase the growth of acne.
