Correct pillow essential to sleeping well

The right bed and pillow are essential to get a good night’s rest, says expert.

About 40% of South Africans are not getting enough sleep and experts say: your sleeping tools matter. According to Anton Fourie, a clinical technologist at the Milnerton Sleep Lab, based at Mediclinic Milnerton Hospital, the importance of a good night’s rest, which is considered crucial for brain functionality, cannot be stressed enough. He says adequate sleep assists with various health factors, including the body’s physical, mental and psychological wellbeing. And to achieve an optimal night’s rest, Fourie says sleep tools are crucial.

“The bed and the pillow matters – definitely. Comfort during the course of the night means you can get in the required amount of sleeping hours, of which the benchmark is around eight hours a night. Your pillow, for one, is important from a sleep support point of view. And you need the right pillow to best support your airways,” says Fourie.

Michael Liffmann, hotel manager at the Westin Hotel Cape Town, says ensuring his guests get a good night’s rest is high on the hotel’s priority’s list.

The Westin Cape Town has an excellent “sleep well” strategy in 8 hours of sleep a night. This is considered the benchmark when it comes to required amount of sleep for adults. place to ensure guests get adequate rest, and the Heavenly Bed and the hotel’s bank of pillows are at the top of that list. He says other sleep well guidelines include the sleep well balm, infused with essential oils like lavender and chamomile to help guests relax and wind down before bed, as well as a special sleep well food menu packed with sleep-enhancing superfoods.

According to researchers, some of the major risk factors involved in not getting enough sleep include impaired brain ac- tivity, forgetfulness, weight gain, depression, heart disease and diabetes.

“Nothing restores your mind and body like a restful sleep. At The Westin Cape Town, we believe that a dynamic day starts after a night of sound sleep. The restful bed gives guests the opportunity to dream away during the night, wake up rejuvenated and ready to meet the next day’s challenges head-on. We try as best we can to maintain a good balance between work and being away from home,” Liffmann says.