If you haven’t been sleeping well lately, it may be time to replace your pillows. According to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation, about 70% of people say that having a comfortable pillow is essential to getting a great of sleep. However, often times we all make the mistake of hanging on to the same pillow for too long.
Director of the Sleep to Live Institute, Dr. Robert Oexman informed The Huffington Post that pillows should be replaced every 6 months, but it’s critical that they be replaced within 2 years. While we often hear replace your mattress every 5-10 years for better comfort and to escape germs, the lifespan of pillows is forgotten when it shouldn’t be.
The gross fact is that even though you may still find your pillow comfortable, it is harboring tiny little critters and debris that you come in contact with every time you lay your face against it. Related to the spider family, dust mites love hanging in the sanctuary of your pillow crevices. Plus, the buildup of dead skin cells, oil and dirt is the perfect way to get acne at the worst possible time.
Although you can’t see these creatures that have built a life inside your old pillows, they may be affecting your sleep without your knowledge. According to Dr. Mark R. Neustrom of the Kansas City Allergy and Asthma Associates, about 20% of people have allergies, with two-thirds of them specifically allergic to indoor dust mites.
How can you tell if your pillow is a problem? Look for allergy symptoms that appear strongest in the mornings. Dr. Nuestrom also suggests that anyone with allergies all year long, get tested specifically for a dust mite allergy.
Keep your pillows and mattresses airtight, and be sure to wash them regularly. Dr. Oexman says that placing your pillows inside the dryer on low for 30 minutes can wipe out some of your pillows inhabitants.
While dust mites don’t carry any harmful diseases, do you really want to share your grade A sleep with hundreds of thousands them cuddling up next to you? We vote no! Upgrade your pillows, making sure it fills the space between your head and shoulders when you lay down. If you want high-quality sleep, invest in sleep accessories that meet your needs every single time!
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