Different Types of Bed Pillows and Their Benefits

(*Please note that this article is an opinion and not to be taken as medical advice or expert information.)

Many people may not realize that there are so many choices when it comes to deciding what to lay their head on at night. Each different type of pillow offers unique benefits. Selecting the right pillow for you may help you sleep better at night and allow you to wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Knowing the various pillow options that exist along with your preferred sleeping style, will help you make and informed choice to get the best sleep each night. The following is a list of different types of bed pillows and some of their benefits:

Latex Pillows
Latex pillows are great pillows for back and side sleepers. Natural latex is poured into a pillow shaped mold with perforations; and what emerges is a spongy pillow. Latex pillows provide firm support for your neck, yet are soft enough to relieve pressure on your head. The perforations on the pillow prevent a buildup of heat and moisture, keeping the pillow at a constant temperature all night long.

Buckwheat Pillow
Buckwheat Hull Pillows are good for back, side and stomach sleepers. The reason that they offer benefits to all three sleeping positions is because the pillow is completely adjustable. Buckwheat pillows are zippered cotton pillowcases filled with natural buckwheat hulls. Buckwheat hulls are flat beans that slide around and adjust in the pillowcase as you move in your sleep. Buckwheat pillows are thermodynamic, so they remain a constant temperature throughout the night.

Memory Foam Pillows
Memory foam pillows are good for side and back sleepers. Memory foam is heat sensitive and conforms to your head and neck as you lay on it. This material is usually advertised as molding to your unique shape, reducing stress points, and then springing back into place. Memory foam is a hypoallergenic material and available in several densities. The higher the density of the foam, the more support it offers and usually, the better the quality. Most memory foam pillows are molded into a contoured shape and provide wonderful cervical neck support.
Magnetic Therapy Pillows
Magnetic therapy pillows have embedded magnets that provide a magnetic field around your head and neck as you sleep. They are touted as a safe and effective way to relieve aches and pains. They also can keep your sinus passages clear and help you breathe better while you sleep. If you get congested when you lay down, you will notice a positive difference with magnetic therapy.

Traditional Knife Edge Memory Foam Pillow When most people think of memory foam pillows, they imagine the typical contour shaped pillow made of memory foam. But there are also memory foam pillows shaped like regular pillows. They offer the comfort of soft, but supportive memory foam and the shape of a traditional pillow. These pillows are thick and great for side sleepers.

Latex Foam / Memory Foam Combination Pillow
These unique pillows provide all of the benefits listed about Latex Pillows and Memory Foam Pillows. The unusual aspect of these pillows is that one side is Latex Foam and the other side is Memory Foam. This offers the opportunity to change the pillow from one to the other simply by flipping it over. It's like two pillows in one.

Body Pillows
Body pillows are great pillows for side sleepers and pregnant women. Many people enjoy sleeping on their side, but the weight of their arm on top tends to compress the chest, which can become uncomfortable after awhile. A body pillow will help prevent the compression of the chest by supporting the arm. Although a body pillow may be long enough to bend around and support the head, it may be too thick. It would be beneficial to use a separate pillow for your head.

This is by no means a complete list, but it gives a general overview of the various types of pillows that are available. As stated earlier, the right pillow can offer you a better night's sleep resulting in more energy during the day.