Sleep-improving pointers for choosing a pillow

There are a wide variety of different pillow types, each suited to different body traits and sleeping styles. We'll help you choose the right pillow for you, so that you sleep better and wake up feeling great.

• Up to 80 percent of adults endure neck pain at some point in their lives, usually resulting from muscle injury, arthritis, osteoporosis, or simply the wear and tear associated with bad posture.
• The good news? Several studies suggest that neck pillows can relieve the ache, though you may have to try out several types before finding the perfect one for you.
• Some neck-support pillows look like standard pillows with an extension for your neck and upper spine, whereas others are rolls or rectangular pillows with indentations for your head and firmer support for your neck. Some are made from foam or filled with water, air, buckwheat, or other materials.

• In a study of 41 chronic neck pain sufferers who tried out a roll pillow and then a water pillow for two weeks each, researchers found that half preferred the water pillow because it improved their sleep and reduced morning pain. Others preferred the roll pillow or their own standard pillow.
• When 52 people with neck pain tried out four different neck pillows plus a standard pillow, 77 percent said that the neck pillows improved their sleep, and 61 percent reported fewer morning headaches. But there was no clear winner among the pillows. Several types offered relief, and volunteers simply said that the best were soft and gave good support to the natural curve of the spine at the neck.
• Because of these findings, researchers suggest testing a variety of pillows for yourself.

• Someday, a computerized pillow may eliminate night noises and let you (and your partner) sleep more soundly.
• Developed by a German scientist, the prototype pillow is attached to a computer that analyzes snoring patterns and adjusts air compartments inside the pillow to improve breathing and minimize snoring.

You spend a third of your life asleep, so it's a good idea to make sure you're as comfortable as possible. The best way to get the most restful sleep is to try a wide variety of pillows and settle on the one that suits you best.