![]() ![]() That said, sleeping on your back or washing pillowcases more regularly could help with both of these concerns. There’s no scientific proof that this is the case but the reasoning makes some sense, after all how often have you woken with ugly pillow lines criss-crossing your cheeks? In addition, a pillow could theoretically put your face in closer contact with bacteria, causing blemishes. Some think that sleeping without a pillow could improve your skin and even delay the onset of wrinkles. Going pillow-free may be better for your skin Additionally, using too many pillows, however you sleep, can give you a real crick in the neck ( 1). This is especially common in stomach sleepers for whom a pillow can cause major discomfort. ![]() In some situations, a pillow may do the opposite job to that for which it’s intended, putting additional strain on the neck. If you have neck and back problems is it bad to sleep without a pillow? Not necessarily. But why? Sleeping without a pillow could benefit your neck and back Sleeping without a pillow has become something of a sleep trend in recent years. When did you last change your pillow? Go on, we won’t judge… Chances are you’re well overdue an upgrade, since you should be buying new every year or two ( 3) and even more regularly if your current favourite has flattened out, is stained or damaged or if you’re experiencing unexplained neck issues or allergies that get worse overnight.ĭoes Sleeping Without a Pillow Help Posture? Sleeping Without a Pillow Benefits Explained You probably need to change your pillow more often than you realise For example, while back sleepers usually require a pillow with medium loft, most side sleepers are better with more height. That’s why it’s vital to do a bit more research into pillows before you buy. Those niggling neck problems could be caused by using the wrong pillow for your body and your sleeping posture ( 2). They support the head and reduce pressure on the neck. Today’s best pillows are made to relieve the stress that can be put on your body as it stays in one position over long periods of sleep. Pillow technology has come on leaps and bounds since those early versions, though some may still feel a little like they’re made of stone. So the question is, who was right? Were the ancients on to something with their proto-pillows? Or can we conclude that since we survived perfectly well from the Middle Ages through to the late 1700s without a place to rest our heads that pillows are a total ruse? Pillows provide vital support Is Sleeping Without a Pillow Bad? Pillow Facts to Help You Decide By this time using a pillow was seen as a sign of weakness amongst men (chronic neck ache is, after all, oh-so-manly) and so pillows were, for many years, used mainly by pregnant women.Īnd though pillows did have something of a resurgence after the Middle Ages, it wasn’t until the industrial revolution, when textiles were more easily mass produced and decorative cushions became the thing that we started resting our heads again. Sacks filled with straw or feathers were then used in many homes right through to the Middle Ages. No such worries for the Greeks and Romans, who were creating almost-cosy precursors to the pillows we know and love today. Not because ancient Chinese cultures didn’t know how to make soft pillows - they believed that soft surfaces would sap energy from the body while you slept ( 1). And while the Egyptians also liked the idea of stone pillows, ancient Chinese dynasties were a little more creative, using everything from bamboo to ceramic to jade to carve equally uncomfortable sounding headrests. Ye olde pillows of yore were made of cold, hard stone, used primarily to keep the head off the floor and away from insects that could crawl into mouths and ears. They weren’t always the lovely squishy down-filled beauts that we sink into on a nightly basis though. Human beings have been using pillows for over 9000 years, with the earliest examples dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. Is It Better to Sleep Without a Pillow? Ask The Ancients… ![]() Why do we sleep with pillows? Is sleeping without a pillow bad for your back and for your health? Or does sleeping without a pillow help posture? And are there other potential benefits of sleeping pillow-free? We’ve put our well-rested heads together and come up with the ultimate guide to sleeping with, and without, a pillow. There is, in fact, some suggestion that regular sleep without a pillow benefits some people in some ways, including potentially reducing neck pain.īut before you chuck that faithful pile of pillows for good let’s investigate a little further. So what’s all this talk about sleeping without one? Are people going completely crazy? Well… maybe not. Helping to ensure good spinal alignment, a decent pillow is essential for a great night of restorative sleep. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |