Pillow

Pillow. It is a piece on which the head rests during sleep . This is placed on the mattress, on top of the bed . Its objective is to keep the spine straight by filling the concavity of the neck to relax the nape of the neck, avoid muscular tension, decrease the stress accumulated during the day and help to achieve a peaceful sleep.

Table of Contents

Summary

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1 Etymology
2 History
3 Composition
4 types
5 Choice
6 Tips
7 Sources

Etymology

Its name comes from the Andalusian Arabic مخدة mujadda, with the addition of the determined article al-, that is: المخدة al-mujadda, which comes from the standard Arabic mijadda: cushion or cushion. The root of this word is jadd (side or cheek), so it is semantically related to supporting the cheek or resting on its side.

History

The first pillows can be found in ancient Mesopotamia (today Iraq ) and ancient Egypt , finding remains in the tombs of pharaohs . Back then, the heads rested on solid wood carved lightly in half.

For more than a thousand years the Chinese dynasties used materials such as wood, jade, bronze , bamboo and porcelain to shape their pillows. Which took the form and were decorated as animals , plants , people or even geometric figures .

The ancient Chinese preferred pillows made of hard materials, as they had the theory that soft materials robbed the body of vitality and caused serious problems, from poor blood circulation , to failing to fulfill its function of keeping demons away !

The wealthy and wealthy of Ancient Greece and Rome began using straw, reed, and feathers to make pillows more comfortable. It was during medieval Europe that embroidered pillows and cushions became fashion items.

Around 1700 pillows became commonplace. They even began to be used to kneel in church, while Bibles rested on their own pillows. Much of what we know today as bedding was developed around the 19th century , although it was not mass produced until the 20th century .

Composition

Currently standard pillows consist of three pieces.

Soft filling material which is what gives it its shape and consistency.
Stitched inner cover, which can be cotton or fiber.
Outer cover that can have snaps or zippers to facilitate washing.

Types

Feathers: they are molded to the neck of each one. They have the disadvantage that they give heat .
Polyester fibers: the problem they have is when washing them. If it is of poor quality, it will be caked. So you have to choose it of great quality.
Latex: adaptable to the shape and weight of the head . They are combined with feathers and down. Those of intermediate hardness are the most recommended.
Cervical: made to prevent and improve cervical pain. They try to support the neck, neck and head to keep the cervicals protected at all times. They are shaped like a swing. Divided into 4 zones of greater or less hardness. These pillows are usually only comfortable for people who sleep on their backs.
Conventional down pillow: they offer a type of support suitable for those who need a soft pillow. Those filled with goose down offer a softer and longer life than those with duck down , which are somewhat cheaper.
Two-component pillow: Sometimes people want a pillow that has the softness and comfort of the down but with a higher degree of firmness. This type of pillow is made with 3 totally independent compartments. The central core is filled with calibrated latex flakes, in order to offer a good degree of support. The outer compartments are padded with down to offer the feel and softness that only this product can offer.

Choice

When choosing the right pillow we must take into account a number of aspects:

Compensation is also important: look at the properties of the fillers to see if their perspiration is good or bad.
The posture we adopt at bedtime.
A pillow should ensure that the cervical and dorsal vertebrae form the same angle as when standing.
Sleeping without a pillow can cause hypertension , and the appearance of cervical contractures.

Tips

Sleeping without a pillow causes the neck to be hypertensive .
Sleeping on your back with a pillow that is too thick or without a pillow facilitates the appearance of contractures.
It is recommended to sleep with thin pillows. In this way, the cervical and dorsal vertebrae form the same angle as when a person is standing.
If you sleep on your side you cannot choose a thin pillow as it makes the weight of the head fall on one of the supporting shoulders and forces the inclination of the spine.
In this case a thick pillow is recommended. The neck remains at the same height as the spine.
Sleeping on your stomach is not recommended. The lumbar spine is forced and the neck also remains turned.
A good habit is to sleep lightly on your side. To do this, the lower leg (on which the body rests) must be stretched and the other leg must be flexed just like the hip . That is, it forms an angle of about 45 degrees.

The position of the neck with the vertebrae has to be the closest thing to when we are standing