Sleeping without a pillow: good or bad for your health?

The pillow is, for most of us, an essential piece of bedding. But is this really the case? Indeed, sleeping without a pillow helps alleviate back pain and brings many other benefits that you may not have thought of. However, this choice is not suitable for all sleeping positions. Bonsoirs tells you more about the pros and cons of banishing your pillow. Here are also some tips for sleeping well with or without a pillow.

Benefits of sleeping flat without a pillow

If you are a stomach sleeper, removing the pillow will dramatically improve your sleeping position. But you will also appreciate seeing your headaches decrease, as well as your allergies and your acne. This choice also has the advantage of being economical, so don't wait any longer to change your habits.

Better posture

People who sleep on their stomach without a pillow have a real advantage: indeed, sleeping on their stomach would place the body in an unnatural posture because the weight would be concentrated on the middle of the back. If you sleep with a pillow, it puts extra pressure on your neck and spine. By removing the pillow, the sleeper's head will remain perfectly flat and the back and neck will no longer suffer from this pressure. However, we advise you to place a small cushion under your belly to avoid the appearance of lower back pain.

Fewer headaches

By sleeping without a pillow , your blood circulation improves since no support interferes with the ventilation of the brain: headaches and migraines can thus decrease significantly.

Less acne and less allergies

All kinds of micro-organisms nest on bedding… And it is these microbes that can cause allergies and even acne. By sleeping without a pillow, you reduce the risk of allergies and you let the skin of your face breathe and better eliminate its toxins.

Cons of sleeping without a pillow

Don't throw your pillow in the trash though. Because in reality, sleeping without a pillow is beneficial only to people who sleep on their stomachs. For others, the absence of this support is likely to be more harmful than anything else...

The lack of a pillow is inappropriate for certain sleeping positions

If you sleep on your back or on your side, the absence of a pillow may lead to misalignment of the spine. You may therefore see localized pain in the neck. With age, it is common to have cervical osteoarthritis: the use of an ergonomic pillow is therefore essential.

A habit that is sometimes difficult to adopt

If you have always slept with a pillow, it will certainly be difficult for you to change this habit. Sleeping flat directly on the mattress may be synonymous with discomfort for you. We advise you to start by acquiring a thinner pillow if you sleep on your stomach and really want to do without a pillow.

Watch out for snoring!

By sleeping on your back and without a pillow, your tongue will tend to block the passage of air. The absence of a cushion will thus be the cause of snoring which can be annoying for your spouse. Instead, opt for a thinner pillow that slightly raises your neck and thus prevents snoring ;-)

Our tips for sleeping well with … or without a pillow!

Whatever your choice, don't forget that the most important thing is first of all to feel comfortable during the night: an uncomfortable position can be the cause of frequent awakenings, which is far from without consequences. for your health.

How to sleep well without a pillow?

If you have chosen to sleep without a pillow, make sure of the quality of your mattress. Also make sure that it is adapted to the singularity of your morphology. Comfort must be prioritized to make the right choice. And if you can't fall asleep, it's because the use of a pillow is essential to your falling asleep.

How to sleep well with a pillow?

A pillow is essential if you sleep on your back or on your side. Preferably choose an ergonomic pillow adapted to your morphology. Think of shape memory pillows which have the particularity of adapting to the different pressure points and your movements during your sleep. The pillows made of down and feathers also offer appreciable support. Finally, the higher the percentage of feathers, the firmer the support.

Advantages	The inconvenients
Allows you to sleep in a natural posture Reduces the risk of neck and back pain Reduces the risk of allergies Helps reduce headaches Proper body alignment promotes blood circulation Positive effects on the skin of the face which will be less prone to the appearance of pimples and blackheads	Incompatible with certain sleeping positions (to be avoided if you sleep on your back or on your side!) A habit that can be difficult to form Promotes snoring