It is very common to spend a lot of time trying to find the right mattress and bedding to give you a restful night’s sleep, but how many of us put the same effort into finding the perfect pillow? Granted, a comfortable mattress and cozy sheets are essential to getting a great night’s sleep, but if you are sleeping on an inadequate pillow for neck support you could be at risk for pain building up in your neck.

Some pillows are too soft or flimsy and can provide little support for your neck. Other pillows end up being so firm that your head and neck are forced into positions that can cause you to wake up with some serious neck pain. An ideal pillow is one that if soft and comfortable, but also solid enough to carefully support the head and neck in order to prevent aching and tired joints.

If you find yourself constantly waking up with a stiff neck or an acute pain from your neck down to your spine when you turn your head, your problems could be caused by having the wrong pillow.

A stiff neck or neck pain are issues that are constantly written off as being normal. Neck pain is normally attributed to working in front of a computer all day or from tension or stress. While these can be contributing factors to your neck pain, the biggest cause of neck pain is oftentimes the pillow you're using. For neck pain, memory foam pillows are ideal for comfort and head and neck support in any bed.

What Is Memory Foam?

The material for memory foam was originally designed by NASA in the mid-1960s as a material to improve the safety of airline cushions. It is made from a substance called viscoelastic polyurethane foam, which is both soft and impact-absorbent.

Memory foam evenly distributes body weight by molding to your body in response to pressure and heat - ensuring that your head and neck are in alignment while you sleep. It provides great protection against impact but is extremely comfortable at the same time.

Memory Foam vs. Regular Pillows

There are several advantages to using a memory foam pillow rather than a traditional pillow. Unlike regular pillows, you will not need to worry about fluffing or shaking your pillow, because memory foam will always bounce back to its original shape and not become flat.The inner contents of a memory foam pillow will not shift or clump like a regular pillow tends to do.

A great thing about memory foam material is that you will not have to worry about your body overheating. Memory foam is a breathable material which was designed to keep your body and head at the perfect temperature. There will be no need to flip to the cool side of your pillow in the middle of the night with a memory foam pillow.

Another huge benefit of using a memory foam pillow over a regular pillow is that memory foam is hypoallergenic. The material is antimicrobial and resistant to allergens, which is a big plus for those who suffer from indoor allergies. Memory foam pillows are also silent, which is another way using this type of pillow can lead to a more restful sleep.

Choosing a Memory Foam Pillow

There are so many wonderful memory foam pillow options to choose from! A great choice for neck support and comfort is this Cervical Neck Memory Foam Contour Pillow. The curved shape is ideal for supporting your head and neck for a great night’s sleep.

For those who like to sleep with body pillows, try this 50" Memory Foam Body Pillow. At only $24.99, this pillow is affordable as well as super soft to the touch.

After a couple of nights sleeping on a memory foam pillow, it can make a huge difference to alleviate your neck pain. Memory foam material is ideal to cocoon your head and neck and provide the optimal temperature for your body throughout the night. If you are suffering from neck pain, you should try out a memory foam pillow and feel the difference it will make!