Is It Better to Sleep With or Without a Pillow? Doctors Explain

Summary: Sleep is incredibly important for your health, but have you ever wondered if you actually need a pillow? While there isn't a perfect scientific study comparing the two, doctors agree on one main goal: keeping a "neutral spine." This means your head, neck, and back should rest in a straight, natural line.

For the vast majority of people, sleeping with a pillow is the best way to do this. Side sleepers need a thicker pillow to fill the space between their ear and shoulder, while back sleepers need a medium one. If you use the wrong pillow, your neck might bend awkwardly, leading to muscle spasms, nerve irritation, or a stiff neck. The only real exception is for stomach sleepers. Because sleeping on your stomach already twists your neck, adding a pillow can bend it too far backward, so sleeping without one (or using a very flat one) is usually better. Ultimately, a pillow is just a tool to help your spine stay happy and aligned!

For more details, see Prevention at prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/a70579782/is-it-better-to-sleep-with-or-without-pillow/ (opens in new tab)