Pillow: Encyclopedia - Pillow

Pillow

A pillow is a type of bedding— a small (and usually soft) support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort.

By analogy, in engineering and construction, supporting elements may also be called pillows.

Pillow - Pillow construction and parts

The pillow has parts and can be dissected.

Starting at the center, pillows contain a filler made from any of a variety of materials including, foam, synthetic fills, feathers, or down. Traditionally straw was a common filler, but this is uncomfortable and rarely used today. Historically feathers and down were the choice of the rich; today artificial fills are the most common.

The fill is then surrounded with a cover or shell made of some form of cloth or silk, commonly referred to as the pillow case. Pillows on furniture normally include a zipper in this cover so that the fill can occasionally be removed and the covering laundered. Bed pillows do not have this feature, and instead a case is used that can be frequently and easily removed and washed. Even with regular washing, pillows tend to accumulate large amounts of dust and vast numbers of microbes among the fill and it is recommended that they be replaced every few years, especially for those with allergies. A rough rule of thumb: if you fold your pillow in half and it doesn't spring back, it's time to get a new pillow.

Each corner of a pillow is refered to as a nib. When a pillow is placed on a flat surface the poof point is the crest of the pillow roundness.

Pillow - Types of pillows

A pillow is designed to provide both support and comfort to the area of the body resting upon it. The design of each pillow reflects the type of support that it is intended to provide.

• Body pillows are as long as a full adult body, providing support to the head and neck at the top and to the knees and legs lower down. This type of pillow can be especially useful in providing support for those who sleep on their sides and for pregnant women.

• Neck pillows support the neck by providing a deep area for the head to rest and a supportive area to keep the neck in alignment. These can also be known as cervical pillows.

• Travel pillows provide support for the neck and head in a sitting position. Their convenient "U" shape fits around the neck and keeps the head from slipping into an uncomfortable and possibly harmful position during sleep.

• A husband pillow (also known as a bedrest) is a large, high-backed pillow with two "arms". It is conventionally used to prop oneself upright while in bed, as for reading or watching television.

• Donut pillows are shaped like a donut, with a space in the middle to alleviate pressure on the tailbone area. These pillows are used primarily by individuals who have suffered an injury to the tailbone area or who suffer pain from hemorrhoids or another ailment of the colon.

• Lumbar pillows are designed to support the inward curve of the lower back, filling the space created when in a sitting position. These pillows are generally used while driving or sitting for extended periods of time, such as in an office chair.

• Spillow Pillow is a new type of body pillow that is naturally contoured to help alleviate lower back pain like the body pillow but shaped more like a spooning position. These pillows are used in bed during sleep.

• Using a pillow under the knees while sleeping on the back can relieve low back pain by helping to reduce the curve of the lower back in this position.

• Using a pillow between the knees while sleeping on the side can prevent the upper leg from pulling downward and creating a twist in the spine.

Some pillows may also provide additional aids to relaxation, such as a heating pad or aromatherapy. Sleeping without a pillow can cause discomfort and soreness for some people, but it seems completely healthy to sleep without a pillow.

Pillow - History

Pillows have a long history, having been used by almost all settled peoples to enhance quality of life. They were originally used mainly by the wealthy, and have been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs. The difficulty of sophisticated dyes and sewing techniques lead to the development of pillows as an art form, with highly decorated pillows becoming prized commodities first in China and later in Medieval Europe. The Industrial Revolution saw the mass production of decorated textiles and decorated pillows became a common feature in millions of homes.

Pillow - Modern pillow sizes

The 'Oxford Size' used in many English speaking countries is 50cm x 75cm (20 x 30 inches), while the 'Continental Size' used in many parts of Continental Europe (i.e. not UK) is 66cm x 66cm (26 x 26 inches).

See also

• Mattress
• Pillow fight
• Upholstery
• Cushion

Category: Bedding

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Pillow", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki