Bacteria in your pillow

Eat your veggies and get your rest! Good advice that I think we can all agree is necessary for good health.

But did you know that the fluffy white pillow you rest your head on at night could be causing a host of health problems? Do you wake up "stuffy" or congested? Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Have asthma, allergies or feel groggy in the mornings? It could be because you've been breathing in bacteria, fungus, dust mites and worse.  Even if you wash your pillow case every week, you could be harbouring a mass of health hazards under your head.

Pillows absorb germs, skin, bacteria and saliva when we sleep. Even with the cases washed in HOT water and dried on hot heat, the germs from the pillow itself can bounce right back into your lungs while you sleep.

What can and should be done?  To extend the freshness of your pillow, use pillow protectors or antibacterial covers underneath your own decorative pillow case. And since most pillows don't respond well to washing machines, you may wish to simply give it 10-15 minutes in the dryer to kill bacteria.  Paediatricians and allergy specialists recommend changing pillows every 6 months to year for allergy prone patients.

Bedding manufacturer, Martex, recommends that everyone replace their pillow at least every two years.

In my house, we get a "round of new pillows" each new year. "Out with the old and in with the new," I say.

There are new antimicrobial and antibacterial pillows on the market, and are priced as low as $10. (Loblaws/Superstore).  Pillows come in all shapes, stuffing and sizes. Prices vary from 2/$8 at Walmart to $25 or more at specialty home retailers.  Regardless of the pillow you chose, I believe it's a very small price to pay to breathe easier. So if it's 2 years old or more, it's gotta go!