Pillows are small and soft support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows, which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort. There also exist novelty pillows, which can be thrown or body pillows, which are designed often as licensed products. Such pillows include the popular Fish Pillow which is a large body pillow that is made to look like a trout.
Here are some types of pillows that are commonly used:
Body pillows are as long as a full adult body, providing support to the head and neck at the top and to the knees and legs lower down. This type of pillow can be especially useful in providing support for those who sleep on their sides and for pregnant women.
Neck pillows support the neck by providing a deep area for the head to rest and a supportive area to keep the neck in alignment with the spine while sleeping. These can also be known as cervical pillows.
Travel pillows provide support for the neck and head in a sitting position. Their "U" shape fits around the back of the neck and keeps the head from slipping into an uncomfortable and possibly harmful position (too far forward or to the side) during sleep.
A husband pillow (also known as a bedrest) is a large, high-backed pillow with two "arms". It is used to prop the user upright while in bed, as for reading or watching television.
Donut pillows are firm pillows shaped like a donut, with a space in the middle to alleviate pressure on the tailbone area while sitting. These pillows are used primarily by individuals who have suffered an injury to the tailbone area or who suffer pain from hemorrhoids or another ailment of the colon.
Lumbar pillows are designed to support the inward curve of the lower back, filling the space created between the lower back and the back of the chair when in a sitting position. These pillows are generally used to support the lower back while driving or sitting, such as in an office chair.
Novelty Pillows are shaped like humorous objects (a banana, tweety bird, a human leg), and are meant to brighten up and add humor to a room or lounge area.
Decorative Pillows are not designed to provide any comfort or support whatsoever. These pillows may have a fancy cover that serves as a decoration for a bedroom or living room.
Using a pillow under the knees while sleeping on the back can relieve low back pain by helping to reduce the curve of the lower back. Using a pillow between the knees while sleeping on the side can prevent the upper leg from pulling downward and creating a twist in the spine. Using a relatively flat pillow under the stomach while sleeping on the stomach can help keep the spine in alignment and alleviate stress on the low back. In this position, it is best to place the head directly on the mattress to avoid arching the spine.
Choosing the right pillow will help you get good sleep, which is the regular state of natural rest observed in all mammals, birds, and fish. Sleep is not actually unconsciousness, but rather, it is characterized by a reduction in voluntary body movement, decreased reaction to external stimuli, an increased rate of anabolism the synthesis of cell structures, and a decreased rate of catabolism, which is the breakdown of cell structures. In humans, sleep is necessary for life. The capability for arousal from sleep is a protective mechanism and also necessary for health and survival.
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