Industry News

Ahhh… After a long day, you slide into bed. It’s the first chance you’ve had to rest since waking up that morning. The pillow softly cradles your head as your eyes flutter closed. You feel the worries of the world gently melt away…

When you rest your weary face against your pillow, did you know that this soft, comforting cradle could actually be making you sick?

Find out how a pillow can wreak havoc with your health and what you can do to ensure blissful and truly revitalizing slumber!

What’s Hiding In Your Pillow?

At ‘face’ value, your pillow seems pretty innocuous. It’s just a wad of stuffing that supports your neck, right?

Wrong.

During their lifetime of service to your sleep, pillows become a fertile breeding ground for all kinds of bugs, fungi and mold.

In fact, one study found that the average pillow actually contains over one million fungal spores!

How Can My Pillow Possibly Make Me Sick?

We spend all night with our face pressed against this potential reservoir of germs. During the average human lifespan, that adds up to 25 years (one third of our life) of direct exposure to fungi, mites and potential pathogens.

It’s not just a gross concept; mites, fungi and bacteria can have real implications for your health. The most common form of fungus found in pillows, Aspergillus fumigatus, has been linked with adverse health outcomes in immunocompromised individuals. This miniscule fungus can also trigger reactions in people with sinusitis or asthma. In fact, it may also cause respiratory issues even among those of us who don’t have asthma.

In a similar vein, dust mites can also trigger allergic reactions while you slumber. These miniscule bugs are related to spiders and ticks, and love to make a home in pillows and bedding. While the mites don’t directly cause any health issues, their droppings can trigger hay fever, asthma, eczema and rhinitis. It is estimated that 500 million people across the globe are sensitive to this dust mite poop!

Furthermore, even if you don’t have asthma, allergies or any other known respiratory issues, breathing in those nasties puts your immune system under additional pressure. While your body may be capable of fighting these pathogens off, this diverts your immune system away from doing other important work. So give your immune system a break and care for your pillow!

Read the full Food Matters article here.