Don't Forget the Pillow!

"Doc, what bed should I buy?" is a question I get quite frequently in my office. But, it is a much less frequent occurrence that people ask, "what pillow should I buy?" Both questions can be answered the same way. "It depends." Not a very direct answer for sure, but none of us are built the same. We all are comfortable in different positions, but I would recommend sleeping on your back or side to best support your natural spinal curves.

Many times, I hear of people that go out and spend a small fortune on a fancy, highly promoted mattress, but they won't spend more than $7.99 on a pillow from the local discount or close-out store. I can tell you this: Your neck and entire spine are not going to benefit from skimping on the pillow.

Some pillows are soft and some firm. Some made from foam and some from feathers. Some thick and some thin. Some are round and some have cut-outs to support your neck. Are you starting to see there are a lot of options here! Since we have so many options, it makes sense to me to look for a pillow that can give you different options for being a side-sleeper or a back-sleeper, and for the level of firmness that is just right for you.

One pillow that I find with these options is the Chiroflow Pillow. I use a Chiroflow pillow personally and I have them available for people that come into my office. The pillow has a foam layer on top and a water bladder on the bottom. The water bladder can be filled with different amounts of water to help you select the desired firmness. That also allows the support to move with you whether you are on your side or back, unlike some pillows that may be great if you sleep on your back, but give you no room for your head when you turn to your side.

According to the company's website, the Chiroflow pillow is, "the only cervical pillow with peer-reviewed published clinical proof of effectiveness."

Clinical sleep trials at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and at Logan College of Chiropractic showed that the Chiroflow pillow is preferred over other cervical pillows and that it improves the quality of sleep. Scientific studies have linked enhanced quality of sleep with improved quality of life.

Reports from my own patients indicate that people sleep better, have less discomfort and feel more rested when using the Chiroflow pillow. Some have even said their spouse snores less with the pillow.

The product comes with a small spout to attach to it so it is easy to fill. It also comes with clear instuctions for filling and recommendations for the amount of water for different firmness levels. Make sure you follow the instructions for getting extra air out of the bladder so you don't hear water sloshing around.

One downside to the pillow is the weight once you add the water. So, if you plan on traveling with your pillow you may want to look at the Chiroflow Travel Water Pillow. The only other con on my list is that it is more expensive than the second-hand, $7.99 pillow from the Dust-Mites-R-Us store.

Here's to a better night's sleep!