Which is healthier, sleep on a pillow or not?

Everyone has different tastes, including when sleeping. Some like to use pillows while sleeping or maybe they don't. From a medical point of view, which one is actually healthier for the body? Come on, find out the answer below.

Why is there someone who likes to sleep without using a pillow?

Pillows become loyal friends to accompany sleep. Pillows are called can make sleep more comfortable. However, not everyone likes sleeping on a pillow.

A study published in the journal Physiotherapy Canada looked at the effects of sleeping on a pillow and not. A total of 1,600 participants were asked to sleep with 5 pillows and not with a pillow at all.

The results show that nearly 50% more people choose not to sleep on a pillow. The reason is, because the choice and quality of the pillow is poor, it does not provide comfort during sleep.

As a result, they chose not to use pillows at all to sleep.

If the pillows are uncomfortable, sleep will be disturbed. Some of the effects felt tired and sleepy the next day.

Not only that, poor sleep quality even in the long term can cause health problems, such as stress, work accidents, and heart disease.

So, why do some people like to sleep on a pillow?

History records that the ancient Egyptians used stone pillows to prevent insects from entering the ears. Meanwhile, during the Chinese dynasty, aristocrats used wooden pillows to keep their hair neat. So, what about now?

Based on the same study, people who like sleeping on a pillow are those who are used to sleeping on a pillow. So, they still choose to sleep on a pillow rather than nothing.

So, which one is better?

Healthy or not, sleeping on a pillow actually depends on your comfort. If using pillows can support the quality of your sleep better, it's okay to sleep with an extra pillow.

Meanwhile, if the use of pillows disrupts the quality of your sleep, there is no need to insist on sleeping on a pillow. Find a comfortable position so you can sleep well.

However, for people with certain health problems, such as sleep apnea , GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder), and neck pain, pillows are indispensable. The reason is, these three diseases often interfere with sleep.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing for a moment while sleeping. This condition causes a person to wake up from sleep with panting breaths. By using a pillow, these symptoms can be reduced or prevented.

Similar to GERD, sleeping pillows can also help people with this condition. The position of the head that is higher than the stomach can prevent stomach acid from rising up into the throat.

Likewise for people with neck pain, extra pillows will help keep the spine in the right position.

However, the choice of pillows must be considered

People with the above conditions, it is not recommended to sleep without a pillow because it can worsen symptoms. However, the choice of pillows should not be arbitrary. The pillow chosen must be soft and soft.

Choose a pillow design that is tailored to the conditions you have. For people with GERD and sleep apnea , choose a bantak with an inclined plane, which is high at the top of the head and downward around the neck and shoulders.

While people with neck pain, it's better to choose a pillow that is not too high so as not to trigger tension in the neck muscles.