Pillow is the head of everything

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 15:29

In her series of articles, Irina Danilina, the first Russian expert in the field of sleep culture and the creator of the Dreams and Secrets premium bedding company, will share useful tips on how to choose accessories for a comfortable and sound sleep. In this article, we will talk in detail about the main subject from which our bedroom begins - about the pillow.

SHOW ME HOW YOU SLEEP AND I WILL TELL ME WHO YOU ARE

Once the bed was a sacred place, the abode of silence. Our great-grandmothers spared no effort to manually create the unique atmosphere of the bedroom: they sorted the goose down, filling feather beds with it, dried it in the frost and starch the linen. A pyramid of snow-white pillows demanded at least respect. It is simply impossible to imagine that later the whole family could wallow in this bed paradise, discussing neighbors and eating kulebyaku.

For a modern person, the bedroom has lost its sacredness. Five days a week it plays the role of a short-term pit stop, two more - it looks like an all inclusive hotel, in which we sleep, eat, watch TV shows, go through documents and hug with our relatives.

If our bedroom is a bit of a hotel, it would be nice to look like a 5-star hotel. Unfortunately, in reality, this is most often a sad hostel with pillows yellowed from time to time and stains on the walls. You probably remember these hotels. You leave them feeling tired and wanting to take a bath as soon as possible.

Our beds take on the look of these hotels. Washing bed linen and changing blankets in season are the maximum care that the Temple of Sleep can receive. A new pillow is generally bought only after the dog has eaten the old one, or the seams of the bed cushion spread out from old age.

Sleep culture, medicine, and common sense say that the pillow needs to be changed every six months. This is natural: it is this accessory that absorbs the largest amount of moisture evaporating during sleep. Polyester and bamboo are the most common pillow fillings and are ideal dust collectors. They quickly absorb moisture, dry out poorly and very quickly become a breeding ground for bed mites.

It seems that the ideal way out is to buy "disposable" pillows and throw them away with a clear conscience after a couple of months, replacing them with new ones. But then another problem arises. Cheap pillows instantly deform and after a couple of weeks cannot cope with their main task - neck and head support. And the wrong position of the body during sleep leads to circulatory disorders and the risk of developing osteochondrosis.

A good pillow can't be versatile, bought on the go. This is an individual item, which must be selected taking into account many factors: age, gender, warm-bloodedness, health characteristics and shape. This is all the more important because according to the rules of hygiene, the pillow should be a personal item, just like a toothbrush and a comb.

How to choose the perfect pillow that will take your tired head like a good friend every evening and will be easy to let go in the morning on a new day?

5 important qualities of a perfect pillow

Filler.

Let's immediately dot the "natural-synthetic" question. Down is an ideal pillow filler. Down padded accessories are soft, lightweight and absorb water perfectly.

The problem is, finding a properly crafted down pillow is very difficult. In order for the natural filler not to cause allergies and become a breeding ground for bed mites, the manufacturer carries out additional processing of the material. These pillows are marked with the “OZON” symbol on the label.

Another sign of a hypoallergenic natural filler is the Nomite mark (literally “no mite” - “no mites”). It means that the high density of your pillow cover acts as a barrier to dust and mites from entering the filling.

Unfortunately, most accessories of wide accessibility cannot boast of such protection, so such a down pillow is very quickly saturated with moisture, increasing the risk of allergies and skin problems.

Double seam or piping.

For a down pillow, a durable edging is a guarantee that the accessory will not lose its shape and will be able to securely hold the filler inside.

High quality cover.

It just seems to put the pillow in the best pillowcase and - it's done. Nice cover made of natural fabric with downproof weaving protects the pillow from wear and tear. It is he who guarantees that the filler does not get lumpy after a month and does not fall into a flat pancake.

Height

The correct height is no more than your shoulder width. A pillow with a high rise can hurt and numb the neck, an accessory that is too low will not be able to provide proper head support and will lead to problems with the spine.

Elasticity

If the manufacturer saved on the amount of filler or diluted the goose down with a chicken feather, it will not restore its original shape. A proper pillow expands when compressed, allows air to pass through, and keeps your hands warm. Test: Press down on the pillow with your palm. A quality pillow restores its original shape within 5-10 seconds.

What pillow manufacturers are silent about

There are many subtleties in the production of such a delicate and delicate accessory as a pillow. Often these subtleties run counter to the marketing goals of manufacturers. Business is business, but you should at least know that:

1. There are no pillows made from natural swan down … Swans are listed in the Red Book and it is impossible to collect their down for production on an industrial scale. A beautiful inscription on the etiquette means that, most likely, there is siliconized artificial fiber in the pillow, which, according to its characteristics, has nothing to do with natural filler.
2. Down pillows cannot be washed … Never. Even with tennis balls. Even if the manufacturer has indicated the permissibility of washing on the label - because you can completely dry the fluff only under dry cleaning conditions.
3. Eco fillers - not a panacea. Natural fillers such as buckwheat husk, bamboo, silk, eucalyptus really do not get ticks and other bacteria. But the percentage of these natural materials in most bedroom accessories is far from 100%. Everything else is filled with synthetic fluff, which seriously impairs the "eco-properties" of natural components.

Why spend on a good pillow

The answer lies on the surface. Investing in quality sleep is an investment in yourself. On your happy new day filled with strength and taste.

Remember at least one episode in life when stresses, deadlines and just a restless neighbor with a drill did not allow you to sleep. The whole next day passes as if in a fog: you do not experience vivid emotions, you think slowly and remember poorly.

This is because, due to a lack of sleep, the body did not have time to complete important internal processes. Regular insomnia and poor quality sleep, the inability to plunge into a deep phase, multiply this process. A brain suffering from a deficit of neural connections becomes like a very old receiver. It transmits signals - but it is a black and white image, bouncing and uneven, often interrupted by white noise.

We are used to spending money on things that will make our life more convenient and pleasant. But what could be more pleasant than waking up every day with a feeling of joy and cheerfulness? High-quality sleep can be a driver for the most amazing changes in your life, simply because you finally stop tormented by the constant desire to sleep and the strength to take new decisive steps will appear.

Irina Danilina is the creator and owner of the Dreams and Secrets bedding brand. The first expert in Russia in the field of sleep culture. Collaborates with European sleep institutes in research on sleep mechanics and human physiology.