There are plenty of scary things out there in the world today that seem to threaten our health from every angle. From airborne toxins to chemicals in our food and water, it seems like we have to remain on constant watch to protect ourselves and our health.

One area that you might want to consider is whether or not your bedding is toxic, especially your pillows. Sorry to add one more thing to the list of things to worry about, but in many cases, pillows can be toxic and prolonged use can cause damage to one’s health. While it might seem crazy that a pillow can cause us to be sick, it is unfortunately a reality that’s best faced sooner than later. If your immune systems or respiratory systems are jeopardized, it can have a domino effect on your overall health in general.

So, let’s talk about what kind of pillows might be harmful to your health and why.

The general rule of thumb is that if your pillow is made of synthetic fibres, it may be toxic. Most pillows that have been made of synthetic materials like polyurethane foam have been sprayed with flame retardants. There is only one way to make flame retardants and that is with chemicals.

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Another potential toxic pillow culprit are goose down pillows, especially if they are from a non-organic source. Goose feathers might be sprayed in toxic pesticides and the oils used to hold the down together are also a source of chemicals.

Even though it is counter intuitive, anti-microbial pillows can be toxic, too. A pillow sprayed with an anti-microbial chemical cocktail is meant to ward off fungi, bacteria and dust mites. But if something was created to kill fungus, is it something you want to be breathing in as you sleep? Might it make sense that if it can kill something, it might not be great for you? It’s been shown that pillows deemed anti-microbial release chemical toxins and will continue to do so over the course of its lifetime.

Let’s break it down. If we are getting eight hours of sleep each night, that is one third of our lives that are spent with our faces is pressed up against something that’s been doused with chemicals. Exposure to chemical flame retardants have been linked to to health complications like liver damage, infertility, obesity, and an increase in sensitivities leading to allergic reactions, not to mention neurological damage, endocrine disruption and even cancer.

All this scary information might seem overwhelming but the good news is that there are many options out there, like organic pillows, that will help you rest easy and worry free at night.

What you want to look for in a pillow is that it is of high quality and made of naturally occurring, chemical free fibres like cotton, wool or kapok—a cotton like fluff harvested from the pods of a kapok tree. Even naturally occurring organic latex makes for an excellent pillow option that won’t threaten your health. And don’t forget to keep your pillows and pillow cases clean and fresh and replace them every couple of years.

Nobody wants to be worrying if their pillows are getting in the way of their health and there are multiple reasons that a person might wake up feeling unrested or unwell. But we sleep to feel better, to reset and to be ready for the day ahead. It’s unfortunate that we have to be so diligent in the battle against harmful chemicals but it is better to be safe than sorry.

So if you think that your pillow is toxic, come to WR Mattress location in Surrey and let our friendly staff help you find an organic pillow that is safe to sleep on so that you can rest up, have sweet dreams and be ready to tackle your day!