To have a good sleep, it is important to have a good relationship with your pillow. A bad pillow can lead to a stroke, which is not an exaggeration. According to statistics, about 2.6 million people in China die from sudden cardiac arrest during sleep each year, and an improper pillow is a significant factor in causing these dangerous diseases.
[Precautions for Using Herbal Pillows]
According to ergonomics, a pillow with a "higher front and lower back" shape is most beneficial for the health of the cervical spine. This kind of pillow can use the protruding part in the front to maintain the physiological curvature of the neck.
In recent years, with the development of ergonomics, health experts have designed various "cervical repair pillows" that are more in line with ergonomics. Among them, the butterfly-shaped design and wave-shaped design have been widely recognized by consumers.
Herbal pillows are pillows filled with Chinese herbal medicine as the core. Different herbal pillows have different health effects. Common herbal pillows can be filled with silkworm sand, cassia seed, lavender, mugwort leaf, sophora seed, and other Chinese herbal medicines.
In the hot and dry summer, people are prone to irritability and restlessness. It is necessary to have a herbal pillow that can calm the mind and soothe the nerves at this time. However, some netizens have pointed out recently that the drugs in herbal pillows have an expiration date. If not cleaned and replaced regularly, they may induce asthma or skin infections. Experts also said that many health pillows on the market actually do not have the effect of treating diseases. The fillings of the pillows are mostly plants, which are easily water-absorbent and prone to bacterial growth, mold, and various respiratory or skin diseases. Improper use of herbal pillows can turn them into "toxic" pillows.
When using herbal pillows, it is necessary to first determine one's own physical condition. Patients with a history of allergies should use them with caution. People who like to use herbal pillows should pay attention to keeping the pillow core dry and frequently take it out to air and prevent the filling from getting moldy. In addition, in order to prevent the active ingredients in the herbal pillow from volatilizing, the pillow should be wrapped in a plastic bag, and the pillow core should be replaced every one to two years.
[How High Should a Pillow Be?]
The basic requirement for a pillow is to fit the physiological curvature of the neck closely, relieving the fatigue of the neck muscles and ligaments during sleep. Therefore, when choosing a pillow, pay attention to the height of the pillow core.
The normal height of a pillow is generally between ten to fifteen centimeters. People with broad shoulders, a larger physique, or a long neck should use a slightly higher pillow. Different sleeping positions also have different requirements for pillows:
1. Back sleepers: For those who are accustomed to sleeping on their backs, the height of the pillow should be equal to the compressed height of their fist (the height of the fist with the tiger's mouth facing up) to maintain a good posture;
2. Side sleepers: For those who are accustomed to sleeping on their sides, the height of the pillow should be the same as the compressed height of their shoulder on one side.
2. How to Properly Use a Pillow
Sleeping takes up one-third of a person's life, so the posture should not be taken lightly. However, in fact, many people do not understand the complexity of sleep. Proper sleep can prolong life, but unhealthy sleep can cause diseases. For example, many people like to use a pillow only under the back of their heads, which can lead to cervical spondylosis.
Doctors say that a good pillow should keep the cervical spine in a normal physiological curve. Using the wrong pillow can often cause sore muscles, headaches, and in severe cases, chest tightness.
3. Maintain the Correct Sleeping Position
1. When lying flat, the pillow should fit from the entire head to the neck, not the shoulders, and definitely not just half of the back of the head. This can keep the head and body in a neutral position, preventing fatigue in the neck. The best option is a pillow with a lower middle and higher sides. A small pillow should be placed under the knees.
2. When sleeping on the side, the height of the pillow should be doubled, and a small pillow should be placed between the knees.
3. It is best to avoid sleeping on the stomach because it puts too much pressure on the neck.
4. Some people are accustomed to not using a pillow, but this is incorrect. When sleeping, the head will tilt backward, and the pressure on the neck will be twice as high as when it tilts forward. Over time, this can cause deformity and pain in the neck.
5. When getting up, remember to turn to the side, use the hands to support the body, and then get out of bed. Do not get up straight from a supine position.
