How Pillows Affect Your Sleep
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Sleep is a pivotal activity in our daily lives. It is what keeps our energy level constantly high to be able
carry out our duties and responsibilities.
After a day of hard work, it is only fitting to reward yourself with a good night’s sleep. And to be able to indulge in the best sleeping experience possible, it is essential for you to use the proper kinds of pillows. Some people prefer a firm pillow, others require a fluffy pillow to hug, while still others need three pillows in order to sleep. It is important to note that the material that makes up a pillow contributes to the amount of comfort you will experience. Its softness or firmness will affect how your neck is supported. And its over-all performance will dictate the quality of your sleep.
They may be small and light, but pillows carry a great weight in determining the quality of your sleep.
Pillows made of bird down feathers are common in the market today. Its softness will surely make you want to sleep for as long as possible. But here’s the catch, down feather pillows are not known to provide good support for your neck. Thus, it is highly possible for you to get a stiff neck when you wake up. Furthermore, noise is produced whenever you turn sides so your sleep might get interrupted whenever you change a position.
Cotton pillows provide good neck support. This pillow is not too soft and it is quite easy to maintain. The apparent downside in using cotton pillows is that they have the tendency to flatten over time. One day, you’ll just wake up and see that your pillow is too flat already, and mind you, there’s no way to remedy this problem.
Wool pillows won’t let you experience the same problems you would encounter with its cotton counterpart. It lasts relatively longer and it is not too soft. Unfortunately, most wool pillows are too firm and will earn you a stiff neck when you wake up.
Memory foam and polyfoam pillows are the best ones available in the market. These types of pillows provide you with the comfort you desire, without the pain of waking up to a stiff neck. They give you proper neck support by adjusting and molding according to your weight. Pretty soft and free of noise, these kinds of pillows will surely give you a good sleep.
There’s no doubt that the pillows you use affect the quality of your sleep. It might take a while for you to find the pillow that fits your needs. But, one thing is for sure, it will be worth the effort.
5 Christmas Gift Ideas for Bedtime
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Luminous lights, colorful carols, crowded bazaars, insane mall-wide sales, heavy traffic, crazy parties- these are just a few signs that Christmas is just around the corner. Yes! It’s the season to be jolly everyone! I know you can’t suppress the feeling of excitement. Well, who can? It is gift-giving time! But how do we know the best kind of gift we should give?
Most of us implement our relaxation routines during nighttime, right before we sleep. This is the time when we just lie down on our bed, sweeping the stress-causing thoughts off our minds. It is when we unwind from the draining day we just had. So, having this in mind, wouldn’t it be great if we got our friends and loved ones something that would provide them a more satisfying sleep?
Christmas Gift Ideas
Here are 5 bedtime gift ideas you can choose from:
Books
A great number of people read before they sleep. Some find the activity of reading to be relaxing, while others just enjoy gathering information. And there are the few insomniacs who identify books as a substitute for sleeping pills. The reasons, whether general or personal, are all valid. Reading is of universal important; you can’t go wrong with a few books beside your bed.
Pajamas
Almost everyone have at least a pair of pajamas in their closet. Why? Well it is because pajamas spell comfort during bedtime. Babies, children, and even adults wear pajamas. It gives us a lightweight and versatile feeling, which in turn would give us a good night’s sleep.
Sleeping Masks
After a long tiring day, everyone wants to feel relaxed. Everyone wants their body pampered. This includes our eyes. A good sleeping mask would have a comforting effect to a person. It blocks the light that prevents us from drifting off. This, incorporated with the right amount of sleep, would make the person relaxed and ready for the next day.
Body PillowBody Pillows
Body pillows are known to help people sleep well. Admit it or not, most of us ‘find’ the right position before we can sleep soundly. Body pillows can easily help us attain the comfortable position as we sleep. With the comfort it brings, body pillows are known to prevent people from snoring, both for your own sake and the sake of your husband/wife. It can also relieve a painful knee joint, hip, and lower back, for it is designed to be placed between the knees.
Beauty Regimens
After an exhausting day, everyone wants to feel cleansed and stress free. Natural beauty regimens can help them achieve their goal; they help take away dirt and unnecessary oils from our skin. They also smoothen our skin, creating an unwinding effect will make us feel younger and more refreshed.
You’re now probably thinking who among your friends and loved ones would best benefit from these gifts. Well, it’s really up to you. Just don’t wait for the Christmas rush! Go grab your wallets now and start shopping for these great Christmas bedtime gifts!
The Types of Pillows
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Types of PillowsAnd so there you are. You’ve just bought a wonderful Uratex polyfoam mattress. (Good choice, I must say.) You’ve got the right size, and you’ve got the most important ingredient for a decent
good night’s rest. But you need to keep in mind one thing. Though it may well be the most important thing, the mattress is not the only ingredient. By now, I’m sure it’s quite obvious. Beds go with pillows. I’m sure it’s quite unimaginable to sleep soundly without the comfort of pillows, right? The bed is there. It’s very comfortable, but something is missing, don’t you think? It’s agreed, then. Pillows are a necessity for catching those Z’s.
So what now? Will you just go out there and grab the first pillow your wallet can afford? I don’t think that’s very wise. You can say they’re practically all the same, but not really. I want to introduce to you the different kinds of pillows out there in the market. You better know what’s out there before you actually get it. So here we go.
As for the different kinds of pillows, there are many much more than the ones purposefully made for beds. Such examples are decorative pillows, orthopedic pillows, couch pillows, etc. But this time, I’m talking about bed pillows – the usually rectangular-shaped sleep-helpers. But as for different types of bed pillows, and what they’re made of, I’ll give you a clear list and description. The most common ones are pillows stuffed with down feathers, cotton, wool, and memory foam, or polyfoam (polyurethane).
Pillows stuffed with down feathers are the most common ones out there. Pillow fights held in movies usually result with the image of a room covered in feathers. Down feathers are the softer feathers that most birds have, the ones that they use to insulate heat. It’s on their underside, which is the side they use to incubate their eggs. Over all, the pillow filled with this substance provides excellent softness and “cuddly-ness” to the sleeper. It’s also lightweight, and has a satisfying durability. Although, I must say that its softness leads to a major disadvantage. It lacks good contouring for the neck, and you’re prone to wake up with stiff necks. Since they’re contained with feathers, you’ll also subject yourself to the possibility of an allergic reaction. Instead of sleeping, you might just sneeze and itch with a stiff neck. You don’t like that, I suppose? Personally, I think it could be best used as a Hugging Pillow.
Cotton pillows however, provide good support. It’s also soft enough, but not too soft. Most of them are hypoallergenic and easy to take care of. The only downside of cotton pillows is that it tends to flatten. The cotton fibers compress, and pretty soon, it will be one-third the width of what it once was. Not to mention it’ll be thrice as hard as when you first laid your head on it. And no fluff can ever revive it. It’s gone, my friend.
Wool pillows are better than cotton pillows in the sense of lifespan. It certainly lasts longer, and it’s firmer. It may not be as soft as cotton pillows, but it provides fair neck support. The problem is that, most of it is sometimes too hard. There’s also a big chance of waking up with stiff neck with this one.
Memory foam and polyfoam pillows are one of the best kinds of pillows out there in the market. I’ll tell you why. Just like that memory foam or polyfoam mattress you own, it contours according to your shape. It gives good support, and distributes your weight evenly. And that’s very well needed in the head-neck area. It doesn’t clump like cotton or wool pillows, and contrary to feather pillows, it isn’t makes no noise when you shift your head around it.
A good example of a memory foam pillow is Uratex’s Senso Memory Wedge pillow. As you see, it’s shaped as a wedge so there’s no need to prop multiple pillows up. Its unique shape doubles the advantage of head-neck support, so you’re sure to wake up with a neck and spine well-aligned.
Also, a good example of a polyfoam pillow is Uratex’s Permasoft pillow. It’s hypoallergenic and lightweight. It’s not too soft like a cotton pillow. It’s not too hard. It’s just like Goldilocks. It’s just right.
It’s also common sense to pick a pillow made of the same material your mattress is made of. That is, polyurethane foam or memory foam. If your body’s comfortable, don’t your head and neck deserve the same? So there you have it. I gave you a quick list, description, and comparison of different types of pillows. So you have your Uratex polyfoam mattress. Go get a good pillow to match it too!
The Best Pillow For You
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Aside from a comfortable bed, one of the vital ingredients of a good night’s sleep is a comfy pillow. But take note, a comfy pillow for one person may not necessarily give the same amount of comfort to another. Every person has his own preference, and I’m here to help you decide what is the best type of pillow for you.
Soft and Cozy
Extra soft pillows are good. Admit it. It’s a must-do indulgence to go on vacation and sink into the hotel’s extra soft pillows the minute you enter your room. It’s nice to have an extremely fluffy and cuddly pillow. In fact, it’s easier to fall asleep on a soft pillow due to the immediate comfort it gives. However, you may not be as comfortable when you wake up because the pillow has already flattened and sunk to a level that’s not good for your neck.
Firm and Supportive
It’s also good to have a nice, firm pillow. Did you know the best alignment for your neck is three inches higher than your body when sleeping? Soft pillows certainly can’t keep it at that level all night – hard, firm pillows are used for this. It provides the right alignment for your neck so you wake up free from neck pain and stiffness.
Molds to your head and neck
It’s also wonderful to have a foam pillow that contours to the shape of your head and neck. It relieves pressure points for blood circulation, which of course, is particularly important for your head and neck. It also distributes your weight evenly, yet at the same time adjusting to your shape. Due to the characteristics of foam pillows to isolate movement and weight, it can support your neck and at the same time take all the weight of your tired head. Now isn’t that a marvel?
Uratex Contour Plus
Now, I want to introduce to you a wonderful innovation of Uratex. This pillow, aptly called Contour Plus, not only provides excellent support to your neck and comfort to your head, it also has two contoured sides to support the cervical spine properly. It’s also unique since this pillow has two sleeping surfaces, this gives you the support you need. But that’s not all. The “waffle bubbles” on this pillow, which gives it an egg-tray look, provide better pressure relief for your neck and head.
Another advantage of this pillow is that it lets air circulate under you, which means that it doesn’t turn as hot as easily as feather pillows. You won’t wake up in the middle of the night because your pillow is getting uncomfortably warm – no more middle of the night pillow flips with the Uratex Contour Plus. And of course, it’s made of polyfoam, which makes it a very comfortable pillow that has all the benefits of being lightweight, gives you equal weight distribution, movement isolation, and so on. With Uratex Contour Plus, you certainly got the best of both worlds.
Foam and Its Many Uses
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When I talk about foam, I usually refer to beds and pillows, but these are not the only useful things that polyurethane foam can serve as. Polyurethane is a kind of plastic that can be made into different shapes and can be formulated to different types of rigidity, flexibility, and elasticity – these characteristics enable it to have many uses. In fact, 3/4 of the whole world’s consumption of polyurethane is in the form of foam, and it’s not just all beds and pillows.
The Flexible Kind. Starting with the flexible kind of foam and the more familiar one, you have pillows, beds, the insides of upholstery, and even different parts of clothing. Foam is used as padding in brassieres and shoulder pads. In other uses, especially in cleaning, most of the modern sponges are artificially made of polyurethane foam because of the foam’s characteristic of being able to hold water. I’m sure there’s a big chance that the kind of sponge you have is one made polyfoam.
The Semi-Rigid Kind. This kind is commonly used for load bearing and for applications dealing with impact resistance. So it’s not surprising to find that this kind has been used as the mid-soles of footwear as a kind of shock absorber to make walking or running on such footwear comfortable. It’s also very common to find them as packaging foam used to keep fragile objects from damage during transport or storage. This kind is also used in some forms of acoustic foams – those that are shaped into cones and wedges, and are used to line walls of studios and movie theaters to prevent noise from going outside the room and cancels out any echo.
The Rigid Kind. Most of the uses of this kind of foam is for rough, long-lasting purposes. Since it’s hard and rigid, it’s ideal to be a sort of structural material. It’s also used as insulation linings for walls, roofs, and weather balloons. Aircraft and spacecraft also use foam for insulation, but it’s different from polyurethane foam. Rigid polyurethane foam is also used in watercrafts, like in surfboards and in rigid-hull boats. Since they’re firm, strong and lightweight, it’s very buoyant – ideal for boats. It’s also used as a flooring material for houses. Since it’s seamless because it’s laid out as one whole piece, it looks good and is ideal for modern-looking designer homes. It’s also common that sculptor artists use this material as a medium for their works. Amazing, right?
From dishwashing sponges to packaging and to sculptures, polyurethane foam is used for plenty of purposes. Be it cleaning, transporting, display, structural support, insulating, or even cancelling sound, polyurethane is fit for the job.
So how does this apply to your foam bed? After knowing all this, you might be thinking how it applies to the bed you sleep on. Well, I have one conclusion for you. If the material you sleep on is the same material that keeps theaters silent from the outside, keeps the temperature stable for the delicate devices on a weather balloon, and keeps thousands of fragile packages safe and undamaged during shipment everyday, do you not think that you’re in good hands? Well, It’s quite obvious, my friend. You should get yourself a polyfoam bed!
When Should I Change My Pillows?
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Your favorite set of pillows. Ah, yes. It brings back memories doesn’t it? If ever there’s something that has witnessed your laughter, absorbed your tears, took the punches of your anger, the tightness of your frightened grip, or bore with your subconscious drool, it’s your pillow. The bond you share with this important piece of personal property seems like a one-way relationship, doesn’t it? You live the rest of your day without the slightest thought of your favorite pillow or set of pillows, but when the day is done, it’s always there for you, ready to be hugged or rested on once more.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that it’s time to change this pillow.
However, no matter how close the attachment, the time will come when you will have to change your pillows. A good pillow of any type should provide you proper neck support, spine adjustment and a good night’s sleep. It’s logical to say that an old pillow would provide the same elements poorly. That’s why you need to change your pillow. Just like any material thing that slowly passes away, it has its own “expiration date.” A time comes when the feathers clump, the cotton conforms together and the foam becomes flattened. As to the question of when, it’s a matter of relevance to one’s own physical need.
Have a healthy, relaxing sleep with a clean pillow that gives you the right support and comfort.
Remember the difference between physical need and sentimental attachment. You can be with your 2-decade-old pillow that has been with you since the dawn of your adolescence, but it is all flat and lumpy, and provides you very poor neck support. You’d know automatically when to change your pillow by noticing that you wake up with a stiff neck and an aching back. You’d also notice that if your pillow does not spring back if you fold it in half, it’s too old and it needs to be replaced. The standard is your physical comfort and health. But before I end, I’d like to share with you one principle. There are plenty of things you’d like to hold on for a little longer, but sometimes, you have to let go. It could shatter that long bond of sentimental attachment, but it’s for your own good. It applies entirely to life, but you could start applying it to something as simple as you pillow.
Uratex Pillows: Shapes and Types
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Pillows are one of the most essential factors for a comfortable sleep. While one pillow should be enough to provide a refreshing sleep, some people prefer to have more than one for various reasons. Personally, I prefer to have at least two pillows – one for the head and the other to hug when I go to sleep. With the various preferences that people want, Uratex has come up with different pillow types to match your preferences.
Head pillow – the most common type of pillow, we want one that provides good support for our head so we won’t wake up with a bad headache or neck pain. Uratex offers various sizes and thickness that match your personal preference.
Body pillow – for those who want the hotdog-type of pillow or one which you can just hug all night, this is the pillow for you. When you’re sleeping, you want to make it as comfortable as possible and if body pillows help you achieve that comfort, then by all means, go ahead and buy one.
Uratex ‘Gentle’ head pillow and ‘Yakap’ body pillow offer superb support and comfort for a good night’s sleep.
Senso memory pillow – this type of pillow is designed to conform to the actual shape of your body which provides more support and stress relief for your body compared to feather pillows.
Contour pillow – for those having problems with their back, the Uratex contour pillow is just perfect for your spine. Its design is similar to those used in hospitals and medical centers that help relieve spinal problems.
Uratex ‘Senso Memory’ and ‘Contour Plus’ pillows are specially designed to provide extreme comfort and pressure relief.
Uratex not only offers pillows that provide great support and comfort, but also gives you options to match your personal needs and preferences. What’s your favorite type of pillow?
5 Tips to Consider When Buying a Pillow
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Deciding on what pillow to buy matters as it will be the one aiding your sleep for the next 8 hours of your day. It’s important to note that your body has a personal preference on what pillow is best for your sleeping position. Some people are better off with strong and firm pillows while others are better off with the fluffy pillows. Here are five notes to consider when deciding on what pillow to buy:
Pillows aren’t just there to make your bed look pretty, they help in giving you a relaxing sleep – so take note of these tips when buying a pillow.
Consider your sleeping position – if you’re the one who prefers to sleep on a sideway position, you should consider a sturdy pillow that supports the neck well. If you generally sleep on your back, then a flat pillow will do.
Size matters – generally speaking, your pillow should match your bed size. If you have a single bed, buy a single pillow. If you have a king size bed, buy a king size pillow. But then, you can choose to have a king size pillow for a single bed. One important factor to note is that a big pillow for a small bed would mean a significant portion of your bed will be occupied by your pillow.
Consider the budget as well – just because the pillow is more expensive than the others, it doesn’t always mean that it is better than the cheaper ones. Go for the more reliable and trusted brands such as Uratex pillows.
The filling of the pillow counts – there are feather fillings, foam fillings, polyester fillings, etc. There are many choices and how to determine which is best for you depend on your sleeping position and the purpose of that pillow. One factor that people may miss out is that for those people allergic to feathers should stay off with feather-filled pillows – seriously.
Don’t forget the covering of the pillow – although not as important for your sleeping position per se, it becomes a factor in maintaining the cleanliness of your pillow as you should expect dust to accumulate on your pillow eventually.
The Perfect Pillow for the Ultimate Sleep
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Everyone desires to have good, comfortable sleeps for it causes a great, energized feeling in the morning. Who doesn’t? We all know that determining your physical sleeping requirements is an important factor in times of slumber, but if you want to experience that ultimate sleep, then you may need to buy an orthopedic pillow. It’s the one being used for those in hospitals, but who’s stopping us from buying one ourselves and using it in our homes? There’s actually nothing bad in using an orthopedic pillow every night, and if you decide to buy one, here are some tips for you to consider:
Consider your sleeping position – it may be best to ask the assistance from the “pillow salesmen” regarding which pillow is best for a given sleeping position. It’s their business and they should know which one is best for a given sleeping position. Tossing and turning a lot doesn’t mean you have a random sleeping position.
Are you having body pains prior to buying the orthopedic pillow? — if so, then you might want to inform the salesman about your condition so they would give you a better assessment on which pillow is best for your condition.
Orthopedic pillows covers not only your head and neck — there are already orthopedic body pillows which are designed to tackle problems with your other body pains (your back specifically).