Dear Dr. Suzy,   

Q.  Why is sleeping on your stomach not good for your neck and back?

A. There is no way to sleep on your stomach without putting some torque or twisting in your spine, especially in the neck region. This can be harmful to the spinal column because it puts pressure on the delicate spinal nerves over an extended period of time, and may result in stiffness, neck pain, and headaches. 

The ideal position for sleeping is on your back, with a pillow under your neck to support the cervical curve. If you sleep on your side, try to switch sides frequently and position your pillow so that your head and neck are level with the bed and not tilted at an angle. Since there is less stress on the lower back when your legs are bent, try sleeping with a pillow under your knees if you are sleeping on your back, or between your knees if you sleep on your side.  

The most important furniture investment you will ever make is buying a high quality mattress. Sleeping on a lumpy, saggy mattress for prolonged periods of time can cause serious musculoskeletal problems and result in a dramatic loss of energy.

Q. What kind of pillow should I use?  I wake up with a stiffness in my neck almost every morning and wonder if it is my pillow or my bed or if I am just getting old.

A.This is an important question since sleeping on a pillow that does not properly support your neck or causes it to tilt forward can gradually decrease the angle of the cervical curve and cause pain, stiffness, headaches, and misalignment of the vertebrae over time.

There are three natural curves in the spine that naturally increase its strength and flexibility: the cervical curve in the neck, the thoracic curve in the mid back, and the lower back or lumbar curve. Just as the curve in a bridge or other structure increases its weight bearing capacity, so too, do the curves in your spine.

Loss of the cervical curve can be a result of overstretching of the ligaments, as is often seen after a serious car accident. This loss of curve can result in decreased weight bearing strength of the neck supporting the head and can cause pain and stiffness, possibly affecting vital nerve flow.

Sometimes it seems that I have been researching and searching for the perfect pillow for most of my adult life. There are a multitude of different types of cervical or neck pillows available on the market today. I personally have a stack of different pillows that I have given a chance and then thrown in the attic or given away.  Finally, I became so frustrated that I decided to design my own based on my knowledge of the spine and my experiences treating thousands of patients over the years. 

I sincerely recommend the Pure Life Pillow for a variety of reasons.  Here are just a few:

The orthopedically correct, ergonomic shape of this pillow is perfectly contoured to support your cervical and lumbar curves. The unique shape wraps perfectly around your neck and shoulders, whether you sleep on your side or on your back. 

It truly is the most versatile pillow I've ever used. When used with the tips pointing up, your pillow provides a gentle traction to the neck or back and can relieve pressure on joints and prevent headaches, neck pain, and backaches.  When used with the tips pointing down, the pillow provides unparalleled support to the natural lordotic and kyphotic curves and contours of your spine. The Pure Life Pillow provides neck support while you are sitting on the couch or your favorite chair, whether you are simply relaxing, reading or watching television.  It can be used in your office chair as a lumbar cushion or used between your legs when lying down to relieve pressure of the lower back.  This pillow doesn't just work in theory, it works in real life.

The Pure Life Pillow is made with an innovative hypoallergenic filling that retains its shape because it is manufactured in tiny clusters that don't bunch up like traditional fiberfill.  The modern, down alternative fill and soft, yet durable cover material make it possible to machine wash and dry your pillow as often as you want.  Simply throwing it in the dryer for a few minutes will plump it up nicely at any time.  We searched long and hard to find this awesome fill and were thrilled when we finally found it. 

In the interest of fairness, here is some feedback about other types of pillows that I have collected over the years. 

As is often the case, the most expensive, frequently advertised pillows aren’t always the best ones. There are quite a few orthopedic pillows available today that look great in theory but don't perform so well in real life.  Don't be fooled by aggressive commercials from marketing specialists.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Some people swear by Tempurpedic or memory foam type pillows that are made of a foam type material that bounces back after applied pressure is removed. I know a few people who are extremely particular about pillows who say that they can’t sleep on anything but this type of pillow.

A handful of people that I know prefer buckwheat filled pillows, but the noise they make as you are sleeping can be annoying and the shape isn't always ideal for neck support.

Others prefer air or water filled pillows. The concept behind water based pillows is great, but many people find them too heavy or awkward to use. I don't know anyone who actually sleeps on an air pillow, but they are convenient for travel.

Also, a few people have told me that they like feather pillows  because they are soft and conform to the contours of your neck more easily than a foam pillow. The problem with feather pillows, however, is that, often, they are simply too flat and the traditional rectangular shape doesn't support the curves of the neck and back.

U shaped travel pillows are helpful when traveling but aren't really meant to be used as sleeping pillows and don't allow proper positioning of the head and neck for long term usage.

In my opinion, the Pure Life Pillow is the world's best! 

Of course, I am just a little bit biased, but quite honestly, I won't sleep on any other type of pillow for the rest of my life!