Cervical Pillow for Neck Pain and a good night sleep
Nowadays, neck pain is a common problem that many of us experience after reaching a certain age. Neck pain can be caused by a variety of factors, which can be prevented. One of them is sleeping with a bad posture. Maintaining a good posture while sleeping can help with neck pain and can improve overall health. A good cervical pillow can assist in maintaining a good sleeping posture.
The purpose of a cervical pillow is to support the head and prevent neck pain. Cervical pillows target the neck region and relieve pressure on it.
In this blog, we will first discuss the causes and symptoms of cervical pain, and then we will suggest suitable cervical pillows to maintain a good sleeping posture.
Cervical Pain Causes and Symptoms
Cervical pain is the second most common type of pain after back pain. Cervical or neck pain is caused by spondylolysis or osteoarthritis of the neck and affects the bones, discs, or joints in the neck region.
Cervical pain is the fourth leading cause of disability; on average, two-thirds of the population suffers from it at some point in their lives, with the prevalence being higher in the middle age group.
Causes of Cervical pain:
The following are some of the most common causes of cervical pain.
- Ageing: Aging is the most common cause of neck pain. As we age, the joints and discs in the cervical spine (neck), like the rest of the body, degenerate and become more prone to cervical spondylolysis which is commonly known as arthritis of the neck.
- Muscle strain: Everyday life's hectic schedule includes some tedious movements that put pressure on the cervical spine, resulting in wear-and-tear of bone, joints, or discs, which causes cervical pain.
- Cervical injury (Whiplash): Whiplash is a type of neck injury that is caused by sudden movements of the head backward and then forward. One of the most common causes of cervical pain is a neck injury.
- Herniated discs: It is a type of cervical injury that usually occurs when cracks form in the spinal discs. Because of these cracks, internal cushioning material leaks, putting pressure on the spinal nerve and causing cervical pain. One of the most common symptoms of cervical pain associated with such an injury is numbness, tingling, and pain in the arms.
- Dehydrated spinal discs: As we age, the discs between our spines degenerate and dry out, resulting in rubbing of joints or discs and severe cervical pain.
- Poor posture: Maintaining good posture is critical to our overall health. It boosts your confidence while also improving your health. A long working hour with poor posture places a lot of strain on your spine, causing pain and stiffness. Cervical pain is one of the diseases that can be caused by poor posture and an irregular bedtime routine.
Symptoms associated with cervical pain:
The following are the most common symptoms associated with cervical pain:
- Pain and stiffness: If you have pain, stiffness, or weakness on either side of your neck or in your middle ear that extends to the back of your head and shoulder, this could be a sign of cervical pain.
- Tingling or numbness: When the muscles, bones, and tissue surrounding the neck region are overstressed, the nerve becomes pinched, resulting in numbness, or tingling sensations, which could be caused by cervical pain.
- Muscle spasms: A muscle spasm is a sudden stiffening of a muscle in any part of the body. It causes unpleasant stiffness and pain in the neck, making it difficult to move your head. It usually lasts a few hours or a day, and you can easily get rid of it by stretching gently or applying heat or ice packs.
- A headache, shoulder pain, facial pain, decreased ability to move your head, dizziness or lightheadedness, difficulty swallowing, tenderness, and sharp shooting pain are some other symptoms of cervical pain.
- Cervical pain symptoms are sometimes associated with upper or lower back pain that generally occurs due to the inflammation of the spine.
Can sleeping wrong cause neck pain?
When you're deep asleep, your head can fall into a position that puts excessive stress on your neck muscles. Your neck may become agitated after a while. If you ignore the agitation, and worsen the strain , you will have a stiff neck the next morning.
The role of a pillow in increasing cervical spine pain
A person who sleeps on a pillow that does not provide adequate neck support may experience a wide range of health problems that are directly related to this common issue. A standard traditional pillow lacks shape and comfort. It causes pain in the neck muscles by leaving the cervical lordosis unsupported. Additionally, the average thickness of a pillow varies, putting the spine in an incorrect posture and alleviating pain symptoms.
What is a cervical pillow?
A cervical pillow is used to position your head and neck so that you can rest. It is placed under the back of the neck while sleeping to help reduce pain.
Some cervical pillows have an ergonomic shape, curves, or indentations to support the head while relieving neck pressure. The cervical pillow's ability to support and assist makes it ideal for relieving or preventing neck pain. You can use the cervical pillow as a therapeutic pillow in addition to your other pillows while sleeping.
Studies have shown that using a cervical pillow helps to relieve neck pain. Keep in mind that you want to maintain a neutral spine during sleep and avoid neck deviation.
When to use a cervical pillow:
- Spondylolisthesis
- Herniated Disc Bulges
- For a good night's sleep
- Other Neck Pain and Ailments
Characteristics of a good cervical pillow
A decent pillow for neck pain should have the required height to adequately support the neck.
- If you're uncomfortable in any way, get rid of the cushion.
- Contoured pillows are better.
- Make sure the pillow is the right density. Check what kind of filling you prefer.
- Memory foam or another option.
- Your head should not be tilted or raised too high. Look for an orthopaedic cervical pillow that is right for you.
- Your neck pain pillow should enhance rather than detract from the benefits.
- Thin Profile. It is essential for good pillows to have a low profile. You can get an excellent level of support for both your head and neck with this. It also aids in the contouring of the pillow to your body shape. If you have this condition, it will help to reduce your snoring.
- Hypoallergenic. It should be naturally hypoallergenic, which means you can use it even if you have allergies.
- Gel for cooling. Memory foam and other bedroom accessories are typically dense. As a result, they are more likely to trap heat from your body. As a result, you may sweat more while sleeping, causing you to wake up feeling dehydrated.
As a result, the pillow should be made of polyurethane foam. It should be equipped with temperature-regulating cooling gel particles. That way, no matter how hot your night is, your pillow will not overheat.
- Spinal Support. When sleeping, make sure your spine is properly supported.
- Removable Covers. Another important aspect of getting a good night's sleep is sleeping on a clean pillow. It is preferable to purchase a pillow with a removable and washable cover.
- Good Material. Bamboo and polyester are the best materials for these pillows. As a result, the material aids in wicking away excess moisture from your skin. This makes the pillow odor-resistant, which means you won't have to wash it for a long time.
What to Look for When Purchasing a Cervical Pillow?
- Pillow structure. There are pillows with a distinctive shape for example contoured pillows that are designed to ease pressure in the neck area. You can also use a smaller cervical cushion to help with neck pain by filling the gap between your neck and the mattress.
The height of the pillow can also have an impact on sleep quality. Find a cervical cushion that keeps your whole body straight by not bending your neck at an unnatural position while also supporting your head and shoulders.
- Comfort and support. The comfort and support of a cervical pillow are the final factors to consider while purchasing one. The firmness of the pillow should be suitable for your head and sleeping posture. It also shouldn't be overly stiff or soft to relieve neck strain and keep the neck elevated with the rest of the body.
The pillow's material might also influence your overall comfort. To avoid skin irritation and discomfort from heat retention, the cushion should be soft and breathable. While memory foam is a popular choice for cervical pillows, you should choose the one that feels the most comfortable to you.
The Shape of the Cervical Pillow is the Most Important
- Contour Pillow Design is Supportive: Contour pillows are available in a variety of shapes that contour to specific body areas. The contour pillow - Ensure that one side of your pillow is flat and the other is curved. The largest of the two curves is meant to hold your neck in place.
- Ergonomic Design for Neck Curve: Choose a cervical cushion that has the right shape for your neck. The ergonomic design of a pillow should fill the gap between the head and the neck, and keep the spine in a straight line with no bend.
- Others: Neck pillows come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including neck rolls, D-shaped pillows, and horseshoe-shaped pillows. Remember to prioritise your comfort over everything else.
Cervical Pillow Benefits
A cervical pillow can help with neck, shoulder, or back pain in a variety of ways. It offers numerous advantages to the user.
- Spine Support: A cervical pillow provides support for the upper portion of the spine.
- Eliminates Neck Pain Causes: A good orthopaedic pillow will help to provide relief from neck pain caused by sudden injury, strenuous exercise, poor sleeping posture, or strain.
- Neck Alignment: It aids in the alignment of the neck.
- Improves Sleep Postures: It helps to improve your old sleeping posture and allows you to develop the habit of a better, less straining posture.
- Breathable Sleep: Not only does cervical pillow support the neck, but it also provides a ventilated, suffocation-free, airy, and breathable sleeping experience.
- Hypoallergenic Support: It allows allergens to stay away from the user while sleeping, preventing additional problems in addition to the cervical.
- Maintains the Curve: It can keep the normal cervical/spinal curve while sleeping on your back. This allows ligaments to relax and maintain their proper length. The alignment of the neck and spine is always advantageous to the person who is in pain.
- No Neck Bend: For those who sleep sideways, these specially designed cervical pillows prevent the neck from bending and causing pain in the future.
Type of pillow you can use According to your Sleeping pattern
When suffering from cervical pain, sleeping postures are especially important. It is best to select the best cervical pillow for neck pain that accommodates different users' sleeping patterns.
- Sleeping On The Back In Cervical: It is regarded as an appropriate sleeping position for people suffering from neck pain. Sleeping on your back can help maintain the curve. If you're using a contoured cervical pillow with two ends, choose the thinner side so the head isn't raised much higher.
- Sleeping On The Side In Cervical: To keep the head in the proper position, one can also sleep sideways during cervical.
If you sleep on your side, use a thick cervical pillow. In this position, you need your ears to be level with your shoulders.
- Stomach Sleeping In Cervical: Sleeping on one's stomach when suffering from neck pains is not good. By doing so, the head is turned too far away from the body and remains in a specific position for long periods of time, which should be avoided.
If you choose this position, your neck will be strained. Choose a thin cervical pillow and another under your shoulder for spine alignment to keep your neck in a neutral position.
Note: While sleeping sideways, try to place a pillow between your knees. This may aid in keeping the lower back aligned.
Cervical Pillow for Sleep Apnea
Many people are unaware that cervical pain and sleep apnea are linked. Sleep apnea patient experience disrupted breathing as a result of upper airway damage while sleeping. It is distinguished by a sudden start and stoppage of breathing while sleeping, indicating a blockage or lack of oxygen. However, damage to the pharyngeal plexus during cervical problems can have a significant impact on the upper airway. As a result, it is critical to avoid sleep apnea while suffering from cervical pain. Both of these could work together to make your life miserable. Here we mention how an orthopaedic cervical pillow can assist you in this regard.
- Choose Cool Pillow for Neck Pain: Pillows can help with not only cervical pain, but also sleep apnea. Pillows should be ergonomically designed, breathable, and hygienic. The pillow should have a gel-infused filling to provide a cooling effect. It relaxes the mind and provides a sense of freshness, preventing the user from sweating or snoring.
- Choose Breathable Pillow: The best cervical pillow for sleep apnea should be extremely breathable. Less suffocation, increased ventilation, and improved air circulation can all help the user avoid sleep apnea symptoms.
Best Cervical Neck Pillows
- Neck Support Cervical Memory Foam Pillow - The White Willow
- Neck Restraint Cervical Pillow is a Medium Contour Memory Foam pillow that is intended to help people suffering from neck spasms by reducing neck pain, aches, and other bodily pain.
- Unique Contour Design
- The contour cervical pillow provides maximum support to the neck and head in order to achieve optimal spinal alignment.
- Because of its standard size, it is suitable for both back and side sleepers.
- Ideal for back and side sleepers.
- Ergonomically designed contour cervical pillow that adjusts to your every move.
- This pillow easily moulds to your neck, head, or shoulders because it is made of original viscoelastic memory foam with a special contour shape design.
- Memory foam cervical pillows have a longer lifespan, are more durable, and are more resilient than standard foam cervical pillows.
- The neck support cervical pillow can be easily rolled and vacuum packed, making it portable for travel.
- The pillow has a special white outer cover woven in Knitted Viscose Polyester fabric, which makes it soft to use and elegant in your living spaces.
- Memory foam conforms to the unique shape of your head, neck, and shoulders to provide personalised support and comfort.
- Viaggi Memory Foam Cervical Pillow
- Better Spinal Alignment: Its foam can reshape itself in such a way that it provides more resistance to the heavier parts of your head while providing less resistance to the pressure sensitive areas. It induces healthy muscle relaxation and results in a restful night's sleep.
- Value for money: Cervical Memory foam pillow, is a cost-effective option which can help your neck to relax.
- Greater lifetime: People are frequently forced to replace their pillows due to the flattening of the pillow's shape or the formation of lumps in them over time. As a result, a significant amount of money is spent on a temporary solution. Memory foam pillows, as opposed to traditional pillows, retain their shape after cooling. It has a more appealing design and a longer lifespan, making it an ideal product.
- No more snoring: Snoring is a frustrating disease that affects both the person suffering from it and those around him or her. When we lie down, our airways become obstructed, resulting in this condition. The shape of the pillow raises your head to some extent, preventing obstruction in the airway and, as a result, reducing snoring. It may also benefit those suffering from Sleep Apnea.
- Promote better hygiene: Many people are allergic to the feathers, dust mites, and other materials found in traditional pillows. Memory foam pillows, on the other hand, are hypoallergenic and inhibit the growth of mould, fungus, bacteria, and dust mites. Furthermore, they can be easily spot cleaned with a little warm water.
- Neck Support Cervical pillow and Bed Wedge Pillow Back Support - Combo
This item is a fantastic Combo for your convenience, and it includes the following units:
- Neck Support Memory Foam Cervical Pillow - for Neck Pain
- Bed Wedge Memory Foam Pillow - for Back Pain, Snoring, Acid Reflux Relief
Neck Support Memory Foam Cervical Pillow
- It relieves neck pain, aches, and other bodily discomfort in people who suffer from neck spasms.
- The contour cervical pillow provides maximum neck and head support to achieve optimal spinal alignment.
- Its standard size makes it suitable for both back and side sleepers.Ergonomically designed contour cervical pillow which will adjust to your every move.
- Memory foam adapts to the unique shape of your head, neck, and shoulders for custom support and comfort.
- Memory foam cervical pillows last longer, are more durable, and are more resilient than standard foam cervical pillows.
- The pillow has a special white outer cover woven in Knitted Viscose Polyester fabric, which makes it soft to use and elegant in your living spaces.
Bed Wedge Memory Foam Pillow
- The bed wedge pillow can be used while sleeping or sitting to provide relief from heartburn, acid reflux, snoring, back or neck pain, and various respiratory issues. Its memory foam interior provides maximum support, while the cotton sheet cover ensures a restful night's sleep. You could also use it as a pregnancy pillow or a laptop table on your lap!
- It is a removable, covered with cotton that is both soft to sleep in, and easy to wash. It Improves circulation by elevating the head, shoulders or leg. It can be used as a knee pillow to minimize pain, as well as a back pillow to provide support to the lumbar region while you’re watching Tv or simply relaxing.
- Neck Support Cervical 2 Piece Memory Foam Pillow - 24x12x4 White Willow
- It is intended to alleviate neck pain, aches, and other types of bodily discomfort. Contour pillows offer the best support for back and side sleepers.
- Assists in correcting sleeping posture, allowing the back and neck muscles to relax.
- The memory foam pillow that is temperature sensitive.
- Ergonomically designed to re-contour and adjust with each movement.
- These foam pillows are long-lasting, resilient, and durable.
- Memory foam conforms to the unique shape of your head, neck, and shoulders to provide personalised support and comfort.
- It is easily rolled and vacuum packed, making it portable for travel.
- The pillow has a special white outer cover woven in Circular Knitted Viscose Polyester fabric, which makes it soft and adds elegance to your living spaces.