Is it good to sleep without a pillow?
Disease description:
Recently, my mother started trying to sleep without using a pillow, believing that this could improve cervical spine health and reduce neck discomfort upon waking in the morning. However, I am skeptical about this, and opinions within our family are divided. Therefore, I would like to ask professional doctors: is sleeping without a pillow truly beneficial? Is it helpful for people of all age groups and health conditions?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Bai Hongmei
Generally speaking, sleeping without a pillow is not advisable, and healthy individuals should choose an appropriate pillow to sleep on.
Under normal circumstances, the cervical spine has a natural lordotic curve. The function of a pillow is to maintain this physiological curvature and ensure that the neck muscles and ligaments remain relaxed.
For some people, sleeping without a pillow may cause adverse effects. For example, it may place the cervical spine in an excessively extended position, causing the muscles and ligaments at the back of the neck to remain in a tense and stretched state for prolonged periods. Over time, this can easily lead to neck pain, stiffness, and even accelerate cervical spine degeneration, worsening symptoms of cervical spondylosis.
However, in special cases, such as for patients with cervical spondylosis, doctors may recommend adjusting or temporarily avoiding the use of pillows to alleviate symptoms. In addition, people who are accustomed to sleeping prone may not require a pillow or may only need a thin pad to support the abdomen and prevent the head from being elevated too high.
Most people should use a pillow. It is recommended to choose one with an appropriate height and suitable material. When sleeping on your back, the pillow height should be about the height of a fist. When sleeping on your side, the pillow height should be sufficient to fill the space between the ear and the shoulder, helping to maintain cervical spine health.
