PILLOWS TALK WHETHER NATURAL OR SYNTHETIC, THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS FOR RESTING YOUR WEARY HEAD.Byline: Chrys Wu Correspondent People in L.A. are constantly on the go. So by day's end, we're all usually looking forward to a good night's sleep. If only it weren't for that lumpy thing waiting in bed. No, not your pet or significant other - your pillow. Once you decide to swap out that beat-up bolster, the floor-to-ceiling display of different pillows at the local bedding store can be daunting daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin . Here are some tips from experts on how to make a choice that will really help you sleep easy. Despite what pillow makers may ask you to believe, pillows aren't silver bullets. Unless recommended by your physician, they won't cure what ails you, and one type or brand does not fit all, says Frisca Yan-Go, M.D., medical director of the UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX Sleep Disorders Sleep Disorders Definition Sleep disorders are a group of syndromes characterized by disturbance in the patient's amount of sleep, quality or timing of sleep, or in behaviors or physiological conditions associated with sleep. Center and a board-certified sleep disorders expert. "Each person has to choose what she or he is comfortable with." Really, she says, there are only three factors to consider when choosing a pillow. First, be sure that you're not allergic to the filling or fabric. Second, the pillow shouldn't be so old that it might have bed mites or mold. And if you have a serious medical condition, such as sleep apnea sleep apnea, episodes of interrupted breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in which relaxation of muscles in the throat repeatedly close off the airway during sleep; the person wakes just enough to take a gasping breath. , go see your doctor, because a pillow isn't going to solve your problem. "With the pillow itself there's no magic," says Yan-Go, who buys hers on sale at Target. Pillow shape doesn't matter, says Burbank chiropractor chiropractor a practitioner in chiropractic. chiropractor A health professional trained in chiropractic; chiropractors do not perform surgery or prescribe drugs; of 50,000 licensed chiropractors in the US, many practice 'straight' chiropractic, ie Randy Wasoff. He usually recommends roll pillows, which, unlike rectangular or square pillows, support the natural curvature of the spine (Med.) an abnormal curving of the spine, especially in a lateral direction. See also: Curvature even if your sleeping position changes during the night. He also says people who sleep on their stomachs should train themselves to sleep on their sides, and ideally, on their backs. "When screening a person, we hope they're a back sleeper," he says. "That way they can relax the muscles and the neck can regain its natural curvature." Once you decide it's truly time for a new pillow, remember, it's kind of like choosing a friend: You should get along on the surface, but what matters is on the inside. The two basic choices for pillow stuffing are natural or synthetic. SYNTHETIC Polyester fiberfill fi·ber·fill n. Lightweight synthetic fiber used as filling or insulation, as in comforters, pillows, and outerwear. : This is the most popular, and most economical, pillow stuffing. It is sometimes sold by names including Primaloft and Hollofil. Like those with natural filling, these pillows offer varying degrees of fluffiness. There's super-flat and floppy, which tummy sleepers tend to prefer; extra firm, often chosen by side sleepers who want solid neck support; and a few varieties in between. Polyfill pillows generally retail for $9.99 and up. Memory foam Memory foam is made from polyurethane with additional chemicals that add to its viscosity level, thereby increasing its density. It is often referred to as visco-elastic polyurethane foam. : The most popular brand name for this type of pillow is Tempur-Pedic. Made from material originally developed by NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. , this foam pillow is designed to mold to the shape of whatever is on it and then slowly ooze OOZE - Object oriented extension of Z. "Object Orientation in Z", S. Stepney et al eds, Springer 1992. back to the original form once pressure is removed. Science fact or science fiction? That's for you to decide. But because people buy into the idea that memory foam was created for astronauts, the price tag can be out of this world: Tempur-Pedic's enormous King Medium Swedish Neck Pillow retails for $165, with the more reasonably sized version going for $99. Generic models can also be had for $19.99. NATURAL If you think you're more of a natural woman or man, there's a wide variety of stuffings to choose from. The classic, of course, is some combination of feathers and down. The more down, the softer the pillow and the higher the price. Or to put it another way, it's cheaper to feather your nest. Feather options: These can be had for as little as $9.99, while decent down-and-feather combos retail around $25 and up. Those who think they may be allergic should look for pillows covered by allergy-free fabrics. Those who know they're allergic should stick with synthetics. Other organic options: Seek out specialty stores or go online. There, you'll find pillows stuffed with stiff, supportive wool or cotton; light-as-air kapok kapok (kā`pŏk, kăp`ək), name for a tropical tree of the family Bombacaceae (bombax family) and for the fiber (floss) obtained from the seeds in the ripened pods. (a cotton-like vegetable fiber); buckwheat buckwheat, common name for certain members of the Polygonaceae, a family of herbs and shrubs found chiefly in north temperate areas and having a characteristic pungent juice containing oxalic acid. Species native to the United States are most common in the West. or millet millet, common name for several species of grasses cultivated mainly for cereals in the Eastern Hemisphere and for forage and hay in North America. The principal varieties are the foxtail, pearl, and barnyard millets and the proso millet, called also broomcorn millet hulls - for people who don't mind noise that reminds them of their crunchy choice; or pliable natural latex. With retail prices for these types of pillows hovering around $50 and up (buckwheat-hull bed pillow prices start at about $45; wool, cotton and kapok start at about $50; and natural latex styles start around $60), these are not for the fiscally meek. Still, some people sleep sounder knowing they chose organic. Regardless of what type of pillow you buy, the basic criteria remain the same. Sleep on a clean pillow filled with something you're not allergic to. And ultimately, sleep on whatever shape and level of firmness is most comfortable. "You don't need an $80, $90 designer pillow," says Yan-Go. After all, you won't see the price tag if you're fast asleep. Heads-up on pillow info Can't decide if it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a for a new pillow? Here are some key questions and answers before you make that purchase: How old is too old? Since pillow stuffing quality and durability vary, and people use and care for their pillows differently, firm guidelines are hard to come by. However, chiropractor Kassie Donoghue, president of the California Chiropractic chiropractic (kīrəprăk`tĭk) [Gr.,=doing by hand], medical practice based on the theory that all disease results from a disruption of the functions of the nerves. Association, says Tempur-Pedic-type foam pillows last one to two years, down pillows last until the down is flat, and buckwheat, her preferred pillow, doesn't break down. Polyfill pillow manufacturers generally recommend buying a new one every two years or so. Bottom line: If the pillow smells funny, feels lumpy or the fabric is stained, it's time for a new one. What's your position? Whether you sleep on your stomach, your side or your back, you want to find a pillow that will keep your head and neck straight, says Donoghue. She tells patients who are frustrated by the pillow-buying experience to roll up a towel and put that under the neck instead. ``What you're looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. is that neck support,'' Donoghue says. Is it really right? If you can, go to a store where you can test it out on a bed. Lie down the way you would normally go to sleep and give yourself several minutes to settle in. If you'd rather not have strangers give you funny looks, Donoghue suggests bringing a friend to check your spinal alignment. And if you're still squirmy, close your eyes. Wash or dry-clean? Follow the directions on the tag if there are any. Polyester fiberfill pillows can usually be thrown in the washing machine. Pillows stuffed with natural materials should be taken to a dry cleaner. CAPTION(S): 3 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) no caption (woman asleep in bed) Photos.com (2 -- cover) Pillow fight How to win the battle for a good night's sleep (3) no caption (pillows) Box: Heads-up on pillow info (see text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion