If you’ve been snoring, sneezing, or coughing ― and keeping your partner up at night, making them sleep-deprived and downright grumpy ― your pillow could be to blame.
Down feathers and synthetic fibers like memory foam are common types of filling that could be hotbeds for allergens — the ones that could be making you feel like you’ve had a cold for months, or (eek!) making you snore.
Because of the heat-retaining nature of these types of pillows, when you breathe into your pillow at night you’re creating the perfect warm, damp Garden-of-Eden environment for all sorts of allergens:
- Mold
- Mildew
- Pollen
- Dust mites
- Pet dander
- Down or feather allergy
All of these things could be causing you to snore, not only keeping your spouse awake but also robbing you of the deep, restorative sleep you need.
But, there is hope.
A natural latex pillow could be the answer to your allergy-related snoring, sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes, etc.
Latex: Get Back to Nature
More science than a miracle, natural latex is made from the sap of the Rubber Tree (havea brasiliensis), a renewable natural material. Unlike synthetic foam (like memory foam) which off-gasses VOCs, latex is a natural material that won’t leave you breathing in toxic fumes that may cause or aggravate allergies.
Natural latex is also porous, allowing air to circulate, eliminating the balmy climate where all those nasty allergens love to live.
Did you know that a conventional pillow can double in weight in as little as 18 months just from allergen buildup alone?
Gross.
Not only is that the stuff horror movies are made of, but consider that you spend about one-third of your life sleeping: that’s a lot of face-time with dust mites, dander, and ― even less exciting ― your own body oils and dead skin.
Are you ready to dump your “normal” pillow yet?
Can a Latex Pillow Improve Your Health?
Did you know that snoring could kill you?
Well, not snoring on its own. That was a bit of catastrophizing. (We’re sorry.)
But snoring can lead to other health problems that can cause permanent damage to your airways and arteries.
Some recent studies have suggested that prolonged snoring could lead to thickening of major arteries, putting you at risk for atherosclerosis which could lead to strokes and heart-attacks.
On the less-severe-but-still-totally-annoying side, allergy-related snoring could also cause:
- Poor sleep quality
- Less sleep
- Low blood-oxygen levels which can cause hypertension
- Daytime fatigue
As if that wasn’t enough, snoring can even put a strain on your marriage.
It Just May Save Your Marriage
Chances are if you often wake yourself up with your own wheezing, coughing, or snoring, you’re also keeping your bedmate awake. This can make them tired, frustrated, and even resentful.
Think snoring-related sleep deprivation isn’t a big marital issue?
Researchers at The Sleep Disorders Center at Rush University Medical Center conducted a scientific sleep study to evaluate how a husband’s sleep apnea impacted his wife’s quality of sleep and the couple’s marital satisfaction.
“Our early results are showing that the wife’s sleep is indeed deprived due to the husband’s noisy nights. This is not a mild problem. The lack of sleep for both partners puts a strain on the marriage and creates a hostile and tense situation,” said Rosalind Cartwright, Ph.D., founder of the Sleep Disorders Center at Rush.
A latex pillow isn’t going to fix ALL of your marital problems. (It’s pretty incredible, but it’s not magic.)
But if you and your partner are griping at each other because one of you is snoring and neither is getting a good night’s sleep…
A latex pillow could be just what the love doctor ordered.
Once you trade up to a hypoallergenic, natural latex pillow, we’d be willing to bet that your personal nighttime “symphony” will settle down pretty soon after you make the switch.
At SmartHouse, every pillow in our collection is handcrafted in California using natural latex. Plus, you can customize them to your own firmness needs, ensuring you get the best snore-free sleep possible!
Your body will thank you. Your spouse might even thank you, too. That is if they’re not too busy catching up on some much-needed rest.
