The Consumer’s Guide to Memory Foam Pillows
Get a Head Start With a Memory Foam Neck Pillow
Memory foam pillows are the latest rage in sleep accessories. Have you ever tried one? Also referred to as contour pillows or neck support pillows, they are in a different league from standard bed pillows. Their specific chemical makeup and design create a vastly different sleeping experience from anything you’ve ever known before.
Memory foam pillows are a product of NASA genius. They were originally devised to equip astronauts with superior cushioning during take-off. (No wonder they make you feel like you’re floating.) Memory foam is a synthetic material. The chemicals combined react to heat - in this case, body heat - by expanding, which creates a multitude of tiny air bubbles in a strong but lightweight material. When your head hits the pillow to enjoy its notably soft feel, the memory foam’s temperature-sensitive properties cause the pillow to conform to the shape of your head and neck. When you get up (if you get up – you may not want to, you’ll feel so comfortable) the temperature reverts back to room temperature and the contour pillow assumes its original body-less shape.
Memory foam is both flexible and resilient. Pillows made of it do not flatten over time. Derived from visco-elastic polyurethane, any of a number of chemical formulas will produce foam of varying densities, measured in pounds per cubic foot. Standard contour memory pillows come in 3-5 lb. densities. The density of the material affects its quality. The general rule of thumb is that the greater the density of the foam used, the more support the pillow will give.
Medical specialists are increasingly encouraging people suffering from a variety of ailments to use pillows and mattresses made of memory foam. Orthopedic pillows are often stuffed with memory foam, providing greater head and neck support and improving alignment of the neck and spine. Pressure caused by body weight is alleviated. If you are among the millions who suffer from arthritis, headaches, or any form of back, shoulder or neck pain, your doctor may well laud your purchase of a contour memory pillow.
Neck support pillows maintain natural curvature of the neck, thereby reducing neck and shoulder pain. Head and neck are aligned to such a degree that snoring is reduced (bringing hope and relief at last to long-suffering roommates).
Contour pillows have been hailed as the ideal sleep accessory for a multitude of chronic afflictions. By elevating the upper body, they prevent airway blockage caused by sleep apnea and sinus problems. If you are affected by heartburn, acid reflux, hiatal hernia, gastrointestinal conditions, or congestive heart failure, memory foam pillows may well be the way to go.
Pillows made of memory foam mold themselves to your shape as they cradle your head gently. Thus they create optimum sleep conditions, vital for insomniacs and beneficial for all. What could be better than awakening refreshed and renewed, following an excellent night’s sleep?
A diversity of memory foam pillows are available to address specific needs. Some are designed for travel, while others accommodate particular areas of the body – especially where sensitivity exists, such as neck or back pain. You will find contour pillows in varying densities, shapes, and sizes. Did you know that taller people with larger builds fare better with larger pillows for maximum support? Greater shoulder-to-neck length also affects size preference. If you sleep on your back, however, you should go down one notch in size, as side-sleeping requires 1 size larger than back-sleeping.
Are you a pillow pulverizer? If you cling to that pillow for dear life, taking it with you every time you flip over during the night, then you need a soft pillow.
Soft pillows are also best suited for stomach-sleepers, and for people with a petite physique. Those with tall, large frames should go for a firm pillow, as should side-sleepers. If you sleep on your back, medium-firm should be first choice.
Of course, habit or personal preference can override everything in determining your choice of a pillow that is firm, soft, or medium, and small, average, large, or oversized.
Memory Foam Pillow Particulars
Contour memory foam pillows vary. If you feel in over your head, chin up! Read on for a description of types.
Memory Foam Neck Pillows, or cervical pillows, are shaped like an “s”. Their design is particularly suited for the stiff-necked (no offense intended), preventing cricks and alleviating cervical pain. They are not intended for those who sleep on their stomachs. Some use the term “contour pillow” in a more specific sense to mean a neck pillow designed especially to cradle the base of the neck as it follows the neck outline most closely, providing extra comfort to this body area. (If you can get to Sweden, you may just find out why these are also known as “Swedish neck pillows”.)
Memory Foam Travel Pillows are easy to take with you. Contour travel pillows are so-called by those who mean neck pillows designed for easy portability. They offer excellent support, preventing strained neck muscles to road/airway sleepers.
Memory Foam Body Pillows alleviate pain and pressure on specific body parts.
Memory Foam Prop-Up Pillows will elevate the upper portion of the body during sleep. Thus the esophagus is raised, mitigating symptoms associated with acid reflux, heartburn, sleep apnea, hiatal hernia, sinus conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, and congestive heart failure. They will give you a boost, both literally and figuratively.
Memory Foam Leg Spacer Pillows are specially designed to ease pain or pressure on the legs.
Memory Foam Lumbar Support Pillows accommodate the back for those in need.
Hypoallergenic Memory Foam Pillows are nothing to sneeze at if you are sensitive to dust mites or bacteria.
Through Thick or Thin
Apart from size and shape, there is the issue of thickness. Should your preference (or rather, you head) lie in a thick pillow or thin?
If you are among the many who are not perfectly consistent, assuming many different sleeping positions from night to night or even during the course of a single night, you may opt for a double-sided contour memory pillow. This type has a thicker edge, backing those of back-sleeping persuasion, and a thinner edge, siding with the side-sleepers. With its usage proper sleeping posture is maintained without compromising your comfort. You can change your mind – and your position – as many times as you want.
Another possibility is the adjustable memory foam pillow. This features a manual air pump for selection of thickness and degree of elevation.
So don’t bury your head in the sand, pretending that quality of sleep doesn’t matter. Instead, bury your head in the most luxurious pillow you’ve ever had. With your new memory foam pillow, you’ll wonder how you ever had a decent night’s sleep without it!
