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Pillows and allergies

• The National Asthma Council of Australia (NAC) doesn’t recommend any specific type of pillow for sufferers of asthma or allergies.
• However, it does suggest that you cover your pillow (and your mattress and quilt) with a specially designed dust-resistant cover. These covers completely encase the pillow to reduce any contact with dust mites, and can also be washed.
• NAC recommends washing the dust-resistant covers at least every two months to keep any problems at bay.
• A pillow, such as one with a polyester fill, that can be machine-washed in hot water (more than 55ºC) to kill dust mites and wash away any allergens might also be of benefit.

A pain in the neck?

• The Australian Physiotherapy Association says while there are many kinds of pillows on the market claiming to be best for tender necks and backs, there’s very little scientific evidence available to back up these claims.
• It says that as most people’s body shapes and preferences differ, the best thing you can do is seek advice from a physiotherapist about what you should rest your head on.
• However, the general rule of thumb if you’re looking for a new pillow is to find something not too high and not too hard. Ideally your spine should be in a straight line when you’re lying down with your head on the pillow.

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Pillows can be made out of a number of different materials. Here are some of the more common ones.

Synthetic fibre fill

• Polyester is the most commonly used synthetic fibre fill. These pillows are machine-washable and usually come in a variety of fill weights to suit your needs.
• Polyester is quite long-lasting, and a good choice for the budget-conscious.

Wool fibre fill

• An alternative to synthetics, wool is washable and flame-resistant.
• Wool provides good moisture absorbency, wicking away any moisture created by your sleepy head.
• It allows the infill (the filling inside your pillow) to breathe well, which claims to provide you with a more restful night’s sleep.

Feather and down fill

• Feather and down pillows have been used across the ages and are still very popular.
• They tend to be soft and sit a little higher than other pillows and are suitable for people who like a soft pillow that will mould around their head and shoulders.
• While they feel quite luxurious they’re not so great for people who move around a lot when they sleep or need their neck supported well.

PillowsFoam and latex fill

• Foam and latex pillows tend to last longer than most other types of pillow fill.
• Suitable for people who like a firm and supportive pillow.
• While foam pillows are generally quite cheap, latex pillows can be pricey but come in a mind-boggling array of styles and shapes as the latex can be sculpted and contoured to any shape.
• There are jellybean-shaped pillows with rounded edges for stomach sleepers, pillows with sculpted grooves to facilitate air flow and graduated pillows that claim to support troublesome necks.

Memory foam

• Memory foam is made from polyurethane, but has a different cell structure from other foams, which makes it less ‘springy’ and slower to recover (hence memory foam — it ‘remembers’ your shape for a while after you’ve moved).
• Memory foam pillows are very heavy and have a squashy feel, leaving an indentation where your head has been for quite some time, so it’s not recommended for those who move about a lot in their sleep.
• Memory foam pillows are quite expensive; costing up to five times the cost of a polyester-fill pillow, so you’ll want to make sure it’s the right product for you before deciding to buy one.