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Pillows make your sleep and rest more comfortable. Other than the benefits it provides in sleeping, beautiful pillows can also improve the aesthetics of your bed by making it look more welcoming. Pillows are considered personal items as some people are usually attached to their pillow to a point where they can’t have a sound sleep without it. 

Sleep is vital to the health and well-being of a person, and that makes the pillow a crucial part of your health. You have to ensure that they're comfortable enough to allow you to get enough rest and wake up rejuvenated. Nowadays, people can choose from a wide variety of pillows, like the Buckwheat pillow that’s especially suitable for sleeping. However, there's no guarantee that the pillow you're using is good for your health. 

Signs Of A Bad Pillow

Pillows come in different qualities which can have an impact on your health. These pillows have different fillers that determine the quality. A millet pillow, for example, has millet hulls as its fillers instead of the usual cotton and polyester beads. If you want to improve your health, look out for the following indications that you need to find a better pillow:

1. Frequent Sneezing 

Pillows are meant to enhance sleep by providing comfort. However, just like mattresses and other beddings, they easily attract dust mites. People who are allergic to dust and dust mites might suffer from discomfort during the night. Your night will be coupled with constant sneezing and waking up, making you lack enough sleep.

Once you experience these nonstop sneezing and coughing, that's a sign that the pillow isn't good for your health and should be replaced. Cleaning it won't necessarily eliminate the allergens so getting a new one is a better option.

2. Neck And Back Pains 

Waking up with neck and back pains could be due to poor sleeping position. The wrong kind of pillow can cause such unhealthy positions. Pillows need to adequately support your head and keep it in proper alignment with the spine. 

The right type of pillow for you also depends on your sleeping position. If you get one that doesn’t support that position, you’re more likely to wake up with back, neck, and shoulder pain. Whenever you experience such pains, that should be a warning sign that you need to change your pillow. 

3. Onset Of Skin Breakouts 

Often, people get attached to their pillows and continue using them for a long time. These old pillows can be harmful to the user’s skin. Over time, oil and dust will accumulate on your pillow, and this same pillow will come in contact with your face every day. 

The dirt and oil will then enter your skin, causing irritations, breakouts, and acne. Even when you wash your face constantly, it won't affect the amount of time your face comes in contact with the pillow. Using old pillows, therefore, is a nighttime skincare mistake, and you should be keen when using them.

4. Stiffness Of Muscles

Stiffness can be caused by the unnatural stretching of muscles over a long period. Such stretching could occur in an unhealthy sleeping position caused by a low-quality pillow. Muscles can stretch from their natural alignment, and your motion will be limited when you wake up. 

If the stiffness only occurs once, then the problem might not be the pillow but other health factors. However, if it's reoccurring, the problem could be the pillow and you should consider changing them. 

5. Restless Sleep

Your sleep pattern can be significantly affected when using an unhealthy pillow. Turning at night to find a better sleeping position should be natural and not caused by your pillows or beddings. A low-grade pillow will make you twist and turn at night, losing sleep while trying to find a comfortable position. 

Lack of enough sleep could have adverse effects on your health and well-being. Your productivity is likely to reduce if you don't get enough rest at night. Diseases could also result from a lack of proper sleep. 

6. Breathing Problems 

Airpath blockages can be caused by a lack of proper elevation of the head. A condition called sleep apnea causes people to have disrupted sleep due to interruptions in their breathing patterns. Snoring is another condition caused by disturbed breathing. 

These breathing difficulties are signs that you need another pillow that properly supports your head at an elevated angle. Failure to change your pillow could increase the severity of these conditions and the onset of other health risks. 

Conclusion 

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Pillows offer several advantages to the body, such as comfort and support during sleep. However, even with these benefits, some health risks may arise when you use low-quality pillows. These health risks are many, and that's why you should be thorough about the type of pillow you choose. 

Moreover, you should change your pillows and pillowcases regularly. This will ensure you get to protect your body from thinned pillows and dirty cases. Change is as good as rest, so make it a habit for your pillows, too.