Everyone wants to buy travel pillow for their next travel, but it’s not very easy, maybe you have big neck but you get a small travel pillow.
In a world where we constantly rely on our laptops and phones, our brains are under as much stress as our necks. Neck discomfort and pain is common, but it doesn’t reduce the irritation it brings.
Your neck health has a direct impact on your posture, nervous system and overall health. But before you spend your money on expensive neck treatments, you can try an inexpensive alternative that won’t break your wallet or your neck.
Here are some tips on how to buy a travel pillow.
What Is A Travel Pillow?
You’ve probably seen laid-back travelers use one of these to prop themselves up while traveling by air. These specially designed U-shaped pillows create a natural resting position for your head and neck, maintain the lordotic curve of your spine and provide neck support that other pillows cannot.
If your spine has lost lordosis, it means your spine doesn’t have the natural curvature to maintain your body posture. Poor posture can eventually lead to back and neck pain, as well as other physical ailments such as joint pain.
That’s why it’s important to do everything possible to maintain the natural curve of the spine. Fortunately, doctors recommend travel pillows as a great tool for relieving neck pain caused by poor posture.
How to Buy Travel Pillow?
The great thing about a travel pillow is there is really no travel pillow for everyone. However, you can definitely buy a travel pillow for yourself.
Not all travel pillows are made out of the same material. And while any support is better than nothing, there are a few options that won’t do much good for healthy posture.
Don’t: Buy Cotton, Polyester, And Inflatable Pillows
Cotton and polyester are very common materials used for bed pillows and mattresses. They’re usually pretty cheap and do a great job of feeling soft and keeping your body warm.
The problem with these materials is that they are often too soft and do little to support the head and neck. Since they’re so cheap, which means they’re so short-lived that it’s hardly ever considered. They might feel soft at the mall, but once you actually try them, you might realize that it doesn’t make much of a difference.
Similarly, inflatable pillows are made from inexpensive materials and are inexpensive. You can usually find them anywhere, but they are usually very uncomfortable and can irritate your skin. Also, an inflatable travel pillow won’t provide much neck support because the air inside the pillow moves with your head instead of holding it upright.
Do: Buy Memory Foam Travel Pillows
Memory foam is one of the best sleeping materials for pillows and is often used for proper support in bed pillows. Memory foam is also a great material for making a variety of sleep devices, as it adjusts to your body’s curves, relieving and eliminating the soreness and pain associated with typical pillows.
The travel pillow made of 100% premium memory foam has natural body thermal response properties, allowing the pillow to fit perfectly around your neck for maximum support and perfect comfort. If you prefer to relax your head in multiple positions, you will want to consider a travel pillow with an ergonomic one, as this will promote a healthy spine posture and support head tilt while ensuring maximum comfort.
Newer travel pillows even use something called gel-infused memory foam, which provides better support and enhanced comfort. The foam allows the fabric to be more breathable, keeping you cool on a night’s rest or your next flight. The gel infusion is still TSA-friendly, so its plush U-shaped design can make your coach flight feel like first class (or at least business class). The best travel pillows also come with detachable, machine-washable covers, so you don’t have to worry about soiling your pillow while traveling.
Unlike cotton or air, memory foam pillows adjust to your body contours and support your head and neck in a healthy posture, rather than just giving your neck a soft cushion to rest.
Where to Use a Travel Pillow?
Sleeping
Most people forget that neck pillows were originally designed for sleeping in bed! You can use a neck pillow to support your head and neck while you sleep to ensure you keep the natural curve of your back healthy.
You should not use a neck pillow if you are used to sleeping on your stomach. In fact, sleeping on your stomach is often bad for your overall health. Not only does it make your neck bend back unnaturally, but it can also make it difficult for you to breathe properly while you sleep.
These designs are best for sleeping on your back or side. If you are used to lying on your back, your normal pillow may push your head forward. A neck pillow helps straighten the head and ensures that the head does not tilt forward or backward unnaturally.
If you’re a side sleeper, a neck pillow will keep your nose in line with the rest of your body. This is important because if you think about the position of the spine when using just a normal pillow, it will curve slightly to the left or right, depending on which side of your body you sleep on. A neck pillow can solve this problem, reducing chronic neck and back pain that may occur after you wake up.
Traveling
With iterative updates to neck pillows, doctors realized they could be used in situations where the body remains stationary for extended periods of time, such as traveling on an airplane or train. You should definitely consider taking one with you on your next long-haul flight so you can get enough sleep during your trip. In this case, you may also want to attach an eye mask and earplugs to the pillow to ensure you can get better rest.
Neck pain is often caused by muscle weakness due to poor posture. And seats in a car or airplane are not designed with your body position in mind, and since we spend a lot of time as passengers driving or riding, these moments can add up and lead to poor cervical posture. Not to mention, if you fall asleep on a long trip, you’re likely to fall and injure your spine.
In this case, a travel pillow is a great tool. Their design will help you keep your head upright in almost any sitting position, so you won’t have to worry about neck pain when you get there. In addition to being super useful, they’re also overall comfortable and can help you get more comfortable, healthier sleep during your travels.
You can even use a travel pillows for airplanes. Since people tend to lean on the steering wheel while driving, a neck pillow can help keep your back aligned. This makes your trip more comfortable while supporting a healthy posture.
Conclusion
If you want to buy travel pillow that suits you, you can refer to the above and buy it according to your own situation, especially if you travel frequently or work from home. That’s why a travel pillow is an important helping tool. Choosing a travel pillow memory foam for a long ride or a few days at work is important to keep your neck straight and your spine aligned.
Sources:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-you-have-a-stiff-neck-try-these-simple-remedies/
https://utswmed.org/medblog/work-from-home-coronavirus-back-neck-pain/